Attack Chain

1. Attacker identifies an instance of SourceCodester Pharmacy Sales and Inventory System 1.0.
2. Attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request targeting the /ajax.php?action=delete_category endpoint.
3. The attacker injects SQL code into the ID parameter of the request.
4. The application fails to properly sanitize the input, passing the malicious SQL code to the database.
5. The database executes the attacker-controlled SQL query.
6. Depending on the injected SQL, the attacker can read sensitive data from the database (e.g., user credentials, financial records).
7. The attacker could also modify data, such as altering inventory levels or creating unauthorized accounts.
8. Ultimately, the attacker could gain full control of the database and the application.

Impact

Successful exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to sensitive patient data, financial records, and other confidential information stored within the Pharmacy Sales and Inventory System database. Attackers could potentially modify data, leading to incorrect inventory levels, fraudulent transactions, or even complete system compromise. This could result in significant financial losses, reputational damage, and legal repercussions for affected organizations. Given that the exploit is public, organizations using this software are at immediate risk.

Recommendation

• Apply input validation and sanitization to the ID parameter within the /ajax.php?action=delete_category endpoint to prevent SQL injection (reference CVE-2026-7130).
• Deploy the provided Sigma rule to detect suspicious requests to the /ajax.php?action=delete_category endpoint containing potential SQL injection attempts.
• Implement regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in web applications.
• Restrict database access privileges to the minimum necessary for each user and application to limit the potential impact of a successful SQL injection attack.