Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Form Tools through 3.0.20 has a reported SQL injection in the export workflow. A low-privileged client user may trigger it by manipulating an export parameter. The provided sources do not include a CVSS score, vendor advisory, or confirmed active exploitation, so urgency depends on whether Form Tools is exposed and used by untrusted clients.
Executive priority
Treat this as a prioritized application risk if Form Tools stores sensitive submissions or supports external client accounts. It is not KEV-confirmed, but SQL injection with low-privileged access can threaten database confidentiality and integrity. Patch guidance must be verified from the vendor or project.
Technical view
The issue is described as SQL injection through the export_group_id field in modules/export_manager/export.php during form data export. The vulnerable context requires a low-privileged authenticated client attempting an export. Public references include a researcher write-up and PoC repository, but the source bundle does not document a vendor fix or exploitation in the wild.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to organizations running Form Tools through 3.0.20, especially where client accounts can access the export manager. Internet exposure, multi-tenant use, and sensitive form data increase risk. The bundle lists affected vendor/product metadata as n/a, so asset confirmation is necessary.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the provided bundle. Public PoC-style references exist, but the bundle does not prove active exploitation. The flaw appears authenticated and tied to export functionality, reducing drive-by exposure but still concerning where low-privileged accounts are broadly issued.
Researcher notes
Key gaps are missing CVSS, missing CWE assignment, n/a affected metadata, and no bundled vendor remediation details. Validate against the exact Form Tools version and export manager authorization model. Avoid assuming unauthenticated reachability; the description specifically references a low-privileged client user.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Form Tools deployments and identify versions at or below 3.0.20.
- Check Form Tools vendor guidance or repository history for the appropriate fixed release.
- Restrict export-manager access for client users until remediation is confirmed.
- Review database and application logs for suspicious export parameter activity.
- Limit network access to administrative and client Form Tools interfaces where feasible.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether modules/export_manager/export.php exists on deployed instances.
- Verify whether client users can access form data export features.
- Check application version against Form Tools 3.0.20 or earlier.
- Review logs for abnormal export_group_id values or export requests.
- Document whether any compensating access controls block client export access.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Database behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-38145 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.formtools.org/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/formtools/core/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://bernardofsr.github.io/blog/2021/form-tools/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/bernardofsr/CVEs-With-PoC/blob/main/PoCs/Form%20Tools/README.mdCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.