CVE-2025-0296 Overview
A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Online Book Shop version 1.0. This vulnerability exists in the /booklist.php file, where the subcatid parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in SQL queries. Attackers can exploit this flaw remotely to manipulate database queries, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially escalate their access within the application's underlying infrastructure.
Affected Products
- code-projects Online Book Shop 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-07 - CVE-2025-0296 published to NVD
- 2025-09-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-0296
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL Injection vulnerability occurs in the /booklist.php endpoint of the Online Book Shop application. The subcatid parameter accepts user-controlled input that is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This lack of input validation allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that are executed by the database server.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component). These weaknesses indicate that user input is being passed directly to SQL query construction without proper escaping or the use of prepared statements.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and the absence of parameterized queries in the /booklist.php file. The application fails to sanitize the subcatid parameter before incorporating it into SQL statements, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands. This is a common flaw in legacy PHP applications that concatenate user input directly into SQL queries instead of using prepared statements with bound parameters.
Attack Vector
The attack can be initiated remotely over the network without requiring any user interaction. An attacker with low-level privileges can craft malicious HTTP requests targeting the /booklist.php endpoint with a specially crafted subcatid parameter containing SQL injection payloads. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, and a proof-of-concept is available in a GitHub Gist PoC.
Typical SQL injection payloads for this vulnerability could include UNION-based attacks to extract data from other tables, boolean-based blind injection to enumerate database contents, or time-based blind injection techniques. The attacker could potentially retrieve user credentials, modify product information, or access administrative functionality depending on the database schema and application permissions.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0296
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual database queries or errors in application logs related to /booklist.php
- HTTP requests to /booklist.php containing SQL injection patterns such as single quotes, UNION SELECT statements, or time-based payloads in the subcatid parameter
- Unexpected database activity including bulk data extraction or unauthorized modifications
- Error messages revealing database structure information in application responses
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the subcatid parameter
- Monitor application logs for anomalous requests to /booklist.php with suspicious parameter values
- Deploy database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access
- Use intrusion detection systems with SQL injection signature detection capabilities
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for all requests to /booklist.php and related database operations
- Configure alerts for SQL error messages appearing in application responses
- Monitor for increased database query execution times which may indicate time-based blind SQL injection attempts
- Review database audit logs for unauthorized SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE operations
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0296
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to /booklist.php or temporarily disable the affected functionality until a patch is applied
- Implement input validation for the subcatid parameter to accept only numeric values
- Deploy Web Application Firewall rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting this endpoint
- Review database permissions and ensure the application uses least-privilege database accounts
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability at the time of this writing. Organizations using code-projects Online Book Shop 1.0 should monitor the Code Projects Security Resources for updates. Additional vulnerability details are available through VulDB #290445.
Workarounds
- Implement parameterized queries or prepared statements in the /booklist.php file to properly handle the subcatid parameter
- Add server-side input validation to ensure subcatid contains only expected integer values
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules in front of the application
- Consider using an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) layer to abstract database interactions and prevent direct SQL query construction
# Example: Input validation for subcatid parameter (PHP)
# Ensure the subcatid parameter is properly validated before use
# Replace direct query construction with prepared statements
# Temporary mitigation: Block suspicious requests via .htaccess
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (union|select|insert|update|delete|drop|--|;|') [NC]
RewriteRule ^booklist\.php$ - [F,L]
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
