# CVE-2023-28424: Soko SQL Injection vulnerability

> Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries and potentially gain code execution on the Gentoo package search service.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 25 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gc2x-86p3-mxg2

## What is CVE-2023-28424?

CVE-2023-28424 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in gentoo soko, published on 20 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Soko if the code that powers packages.gentoo.org. Prior to version 1.0.2, the two package search handlers, `Search` and `SearchFeed`, implemented in `pkg/app/handler/packages/search.go`, are affected by a SQL injection via the `q` parameter. As a result, unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries on `https://packages.gentoo.org/`. It was also demonstrated that primitive was enough to gain code execution in the context of the PostgreSQL container. The issue was addressed in commit `4fa6e4b619c0362728955b6ec56eab0e0cbf1e23y` of version 1.0.2 using prepared statements to interpolate user-controlled data in SQL queries.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-28424?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gentoo Soko.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-28424?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-28424 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-28424 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-28424 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in gentoo soko

- [CVE-2023-26033](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-26033/): Gentoo soko contains DoS attack based on SQL Injection (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-28424 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-28424 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in gentoo soko, published on 20 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-28424 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: gentoo soko. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28424/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28424/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-28424
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28424
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-28424

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28424/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.