CVE-2024-4658 identifies an SQL Injection vulnerability in TE Informatics Nova CMS versions prior to 5.0. The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89), which allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code into backend database queries. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The impact primarily affects confidentiality and integrity of the database, potentially allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive data. The vulnerability does not affect availability directly and has low complexity for exploitation. No known public exploits have been reported yet, but the lack of authentication requirements and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk. Nova CMS is a content management system used by various organizations, and this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise websites or backend systems relying on it. The absence of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention to alternative mitigations such as input validation and web application firewalls. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2024 and published in October 2024, indicating recent discovery and disclosure.

For European organizations using Nova CMS, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data access and manipulation, potentially exposing sensitive customer or business information. Attackers could exploit the flaw to extract confidential data, alter website content, or escalate further attacks within the network. This could lead to reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and financial losses. Since the vulnerability does not require authentication, any publicly accessible Nova CMS instance is at risk. The impact is particularly critical for sectors handling sensitive personal data, such as healthcare, finance, and government services. Additionally, compromised CMS platforms can serve as footholds for broader attacks against organizational infrastructure. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but actionable threat level, emphasizing the need for timely mitigation to prevent exploitation.

1. Monitor TE Informatics announcements closely and apply official patches or updates for Nova CMS version 5.0 or later as soon as they become available. 2. Until patches are released, implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied data to prevent injection of malicious SQL code. 3. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules specifically designed to detect and block SQL Injection attempts targeting Nova CMS. 4. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews of custom plugins or extensions integrated with Nova CMS to identify and remediate injection flaws. 5. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary to limit the impact of a successful injection attack. 6. Monitor logs for unusual database queries or error messages indicative of injection attempts. 7. Educate development and IT teams about secure coding practices and the risks of SQL Injection vulnerabilities. 8. Consider isolating Nova CMS instances in segmented network zones to reduce lateral movement in case of compromise.