CVE-2024-24014 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability affecting Novel-Plus version 4.3.0-RC1 and all prior versions. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of user-supplied input parameters—specifically the offset, limit, and sort parameters—within the /novel/author/list endpoint. An attacker can craft malicious input to manipulate the underlying SQL queries executed by the application, enabling unauthorized access to or modification of the database. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), which is a common and dangerous injection flaw. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 (critical) reflects the high impact and ease of exploitation: the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to extract sensitive data, modify or delete records, or disrupt application functionality, potentially leading to full system compromise depending on the database privileges. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the critical severity and straightforward attack vector make it a high-risk issue that demands immediate attention from organizations using Novel-Plus. The lack of vendor or product details beyond the version and endpoint suggests this may be a niche or less widely known software, but the impact on affected deployments remains severe.

For European organizations using Novel-Plus, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including user data or proprietary content managed by the application. Data tampering or deletion could disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and cause regulatory compliance issues under GDPR due to potential data breaches. The critical nature of the vulnerability means attackers can remotely exploit it without authentication or user interaction, increasing the likelihood of automated attacks or exploitation by opportunistic threat actors. Organizations in sectors such as publishing, digital content management, or any industry relying on Novel-Plus for author or content listing are particularly vulnerable. The potential for full database compromise could also serve as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks, escalating the overall security risk.

1. Immediate patching: Organizations should monitor for official patches or updates from the Novel-Plus maintainers and apply them promptly once available. 2. Input validation and sanitization: Until patches are available, implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the offset, limit, and sort parameters. 3. Principle of least privilege: Restrict database user permissions used by Novel-Plus to only necessary operations, minimizing the impact of potential exploitation. 4. Network segmentation: Isolate the application and its database from critical internal networks to limit lateral movement if compromised. 5. Monitoring and logging: Enable detailed logging of web requests and database queries to detect suspicious activity indicative of SQL injection attempts. 6. Code review and hardening: If source code access is available, review and refactor the handling of user inputs in the affected endpoint to ensure proper parameterization and use of prepared statements. 7. Incident response readiness: Prepare for potential incident handling by backing up data securely and having a response plan for data breaches or service disruptions.