CVE-2022-44290 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability identified in webTareas version 2.4p5, specifically exploitable via the 'id' parameter in the deleteapprovalstages.php script. SQL injection (CWE-89) vulnerabilities occur when untrusted input is improperly sanitized and directly incorporated into SQL queries, allowing an attacker to manipulate the database query logic. In this case, the 'id' parameter is vulnerable, enabling an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity with the following vector: Network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker can fully compromise the database, potentially extracting sensitive data, modifying or deleting records, or causing denial of service. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, making it highly exploitable remotely. Although no official patch or vendor information is provided, the vulnerability was reserved and published in late 2022, and is enriched by CISA, indicating recognition by US cybersecurity authorities. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the critical nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat to any organization running the affected webTareas version. The lack of vendor or product details beyond the version and script name limits precise identification, but the vulnerability clearly targets a web-based task or workflow management system component.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be severe. If webTareas 2.4p5 is used within enterprise environments, especially in sectors managing sensitive workflows or approvals (e.g., finance, healthcare, government), exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data tampering, or disruption of critical business processes. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands could allow attackers to extract confidential information, manipulate approval stages or workflow data, or delete records, resulting in operational downtime and reputational damage. Given the vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely, attackers can launch automated attacks at scale. This poses a heightened risk to organizations with internet-facing instances of webTareas or insufficient network segmentation. Additionally, the potential for data integrity compromise could affect compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations, exposing organizations to legal and financial penalties. The absence of a patch increases the urgency for mitigation, as attackers may develop exploits targeting this vulnerability.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting external access to the affected deleteapprovalstages.php endpoint by implementing network-level controls such as firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the 'id' parameter. 2. Conduct a thorough inventory to identify all instances of webTareas 2.4p5 within the organization and isolate vulnerable systems from the internet or untrusted networks. 3. Implement input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements in the application code to prevent SQL injection; if source code access is available, prioritize patching the vulnerable script. 4. Monitor logs for suspicious activity related to the 'id' parameter or unusual database queries indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. If patching is not immediately possible, consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions or database activity monitoring tools to detect and block malicious queries. 6. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response to any detected exploitation attempts. 7. Engage with the vendor or community maintaining webTareas for updates or patches and apply them as soon as they become available.