CVE-2025-13241: Fabian Student Info System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-13241 Overview

A SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in Fabian Student Information System 2.0. This security flaw affects the /index.php file, where improper handling of the Username parameter allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive student data and database manipulation.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit the Username parameter in the login page to perform SQL injection attacks, potentially compromising student records, administrative credentials, and the entire database backend.

Affected Products

• Fabian Student Information System 2.0
• code-projects Student Information System 2

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-11-16 - CVE-2025-13241 published to NVD
• 2025-11-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13241

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability exists within the authentication mechanism of the Student Information System. The /index.php file processes user-supplied input from the Username field without proper sanitization or parameterized queries. When a user submits login credentials, the application directly concatenates the Username value into SQL statements, creating an injection point that attackers can exploit.

The vulnerability allows attackers to modify the structure of SQL queries executed against the backend database. This can lead to authentication bypass, unauthorized data extraction, data modification, or in severe cases, complete database compromise. Educational institutions using this software may have sensitive student personal information, grades, and administrative data at risk.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation and sanitization on the Username parameter in /index.php. The application fails to implement prepared statements or parameterized queries, instead directly embedding user input into SQL queries. This classic CWE-89 (SQL Injection) vulnerability pattern occurs when developers trust user input and construct SQL statements through string concatenation.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious input containing SQL metacharacters and inject them through the Username field on the login page. Common attack payloads include single quotes, UNION SELECT statements, and boolean-based injection techniques to extract data or bypass authentication controls.

The exploitation methodology typically involves:

1. Accessing the /index.php login page remotely
2. Entering a crafted SQL injection payload in the Username field
3. Observing application behavior to confirm injection success
4. Extracting sensitive data or bypassing authentication through refined payloads

Technical details and proof-of-concept information are available in the GitHub CVE Details Document.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13241

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages appearing in web server logs related to /index.php
• Multiple failed login attempts with suspicious characters (single quotes, UNION, SELECT, OR statements) in usernames
• Database query logs showing unexpected queries or data extraction attempts
• Anomalous traffic patterns targeting the login endpoint with varying payloads

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in POST parameters
• Enable detailed logging on the /index.php endpoint to capture all login attempts and parameter values
• Implement database activity monitoring to alert on suspicious query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Use intrusion detection systems with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor authentication logs for patterns indicating automated SQL injection testing tools
• Set up alerts for database errors that may indicate injection attempts
• Review access logs for repeated requests to /index.php with varying payloads
• Track any unauthorized database queries or data exports from the student information tables

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13241

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove the Student Information System from public network access until patched
• Implement a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules in front of the application
• Review database logs for any evidence of prior exploitation or data exfiltration
• Change all administrative passwords and database credentials as a precaution
• Consider isolating the database server from direct application queries

Patch Information

No official vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor the Code Projects Security Resource for updates. Additional vulnerability details can be found at VulDB #332567.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation on the Username field to reject SQL metacharacters and limit input length
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF configured to sanitize or block requests containing SQL injection patterns
• Modify the application code to use prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions
• Restrict database user permissions to minimum required privileges to limit potential damage from successful exploitation

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:Username "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    msg:'SQL Injection Attempt Detected in Username',\
    logdata:'Matched Data: %{MATCHED_VAR}',\
    severity:CRITICAL"