CVE-2025-13579: Library System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-13579 Overview

CVE-2025-13579 is a SQL injection vulnerability in code-projects Library System 1.0. The flaw exists in the /return.php endpoint, where the ID parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. An authenticated attacker can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The attack can be launched remotely over the network, and a public exploit description has been disclosed.

The issue is tracked 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).

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can inject SQL into /return.php via the ID parameter, exposing or modifying library database records.

Affected Products

code-projects Library System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-24 - CVE-2025-13579 published to NVD
2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13579

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in /return.php, a script within the Library System used to process book return operations. The script consumes the ID request parameter and concatenates it into a SQL statement executed against the backing database. Because input is neither validated nor parameterized, attacker-controlled SQL syntax is executed by the database engine.

An attacker can use standard SQL injection techniques such as UNION SELECT payloads, boolean-based blind probes, or time-based extraction to read records, modify data, or enumerate the database schema. Exploitation requires network reachability to the application and a low-privileged session. The exploit details have been publicly disclosed through VulDB, which lowers the technical barrier for opportunistic abuse.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of user-supplied input within the SQL query construction in /return.php. The ID parameter is interpolated directly into a query string instead of being bound through parameterized statements or prepared queries. Any character with SQL semantic meaning, such as ', --, or ;, alters the original query's intent.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires low-level user privileges in the application. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /return.php with a malicious ID parameter value. Because no user interaction is required and the request reaches the database directly, exploitation can be automated using common SQL injection tooling such as sqlmap.

The vulnerability manifests when the application executes the concatenated query. See the VulDB Entry #333343 and GitHub Issue Discussion for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13579

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /return.php containing SQL metacharacters in the ID parameter, such as ', ", --, ;, UNION, or SLEEP(.
Database error messages or stack traces returned in HTTP responses from the Library System application.
Unexpected outbound queries from the Library System database process, or anomalous read volume against library tables.
Web server access logs showing repeated requests to /return.php with varying ID payload lengths consistent with blind SQL injection probing.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL injection signatures targeting the ID parameter on /return.php.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries originating from the Library System that contain UNION SELECT, INFORMATION_SCHEMA, or BENCHMARK/SLEEP constructs.
Correlate web access logs with database query logs to identify request-to-query patterns indicative of injection.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor authentication logs for low-privileged accounts issuing high volumes of requests to /return.php.
Alert on HTTP 500 responses from /return.php, which often accompany malformed injection payloads.
Track database response times for /return.php-originated queries to detect time-based blind injection attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13579

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network exposure of the Library System 1.0 application to trusted internal networks until a fix is applied.
Revoke or rotate low-privileged application accounts that are not actively in use to reduce the pool of usable attacker identities.
Deploy WAF rules to block SQL injection patterns targeting the ID parameter on /return.php.
Audit database accounts used by the application and enforce least-privilege grants, removing DROP, ALTER, and write permissions where not required.

Patch Information

No vendor patch has been published for code-projects Library System 1.0 at the time of NVD publication. Refer to the Code Projects Resource Hub and the VulDB CTI Entry #333343 for status updates. Organizations relying on this codebase should consider remediating the source directly by rewriting the query in /return.php to use prepared statements.

Workarounds

Modify /return.php to use parameterized queries via mysqli_prepare() or PDO prepare() with bound parameters for the ID value.
Add server-side input validation that rejects any ID value that is not a strict integer before reaching the database layer.
Place the application behind a reverse proxy enforcing strict input filtering and rate limits on /return.php.
If immediate code changes are not feasible, take the affected endpoint offline until remediation is applied.

bash

# Example PHP remediation pattern using PDO prepared statements
$stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM books WHERE id = :id');
$stmt->bindValue(':id', (int)$_GET['ID'], PDO::PARAM_INT);
$stmt->execute();
$result = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);