CVE-2025-2471: Phpgurukul Boat Booking System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-2471 Overview

CVE-2025-2471 is a SQL injection vulnerability in PHPGurukul Boat Booking System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /boat-details.php script, where the bid parameter is passed to a backend SQL query without proper sanitization. An authenticated remote attacker can manipulate this argument to alter query logic and retrieve, modify, or delete database records.

The issue is classified under [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output). Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks against exposed installations.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low-privileged accounts can extract or manipulate backend database contents in PHPGurukul Boat Booking System 1.0 through the bid parameter of /boat-details.php.

Affected Products

PHPGurukul Boat Booking System 1.0
Component: boat-details.php
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:phpgurukul:boat_booking_system:1.0

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-18 - CVE-2025-2471 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-2471

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in /boat-details.php, a PHP script that accepts a bid (boat identifier) parameter from the HTTP request. The application concatenates this user-controlled value directly into a SQL statement executed against the backend database. Because the parameter is neither type-cast to an integer nor passed through parameterized queries, an attacker can inject SQL syntax that the database engine will execute.

Exploitation requires network access to the application and low-privilege authentication. No user interaction is needed once a valid session is established. The disclosed exploit can be delivered through standard HTTP requests, making automated scanning and mass exploitation feasible.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in a SQL command. PHPGurukul Boat Booking System 1.0 builds dynamic SQL using string concatenation with the bid GET or POST parameter. The application lacks input validation, prepared statements, and parameter binding, which are the standard defenses against SQL injection.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /boat-details.php with a malicious payload in the bid parameter. Typical injection techniques include UNION-based extraction to read arbitrary tables, boolean-based blind injection to enumerate data, and time-based blind injection when output is not reflected. Successful exploitation can expose customer records, booking data, and credential hashes stored in the application database.

The vulnerability mechanism is documented in the public GitHub Issue Discussion and indexed under VulDB #299964.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-2471

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /boat-details.php where the bid parameter contains SQL meta-characters such as ', ", --, ;, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP(.
Web server access logs showing repeated requests to boat-details.php with progressively varied bid values, consistent with automated injection tooling.
Database error messages or 500 HTTP responses correlated with unusual bid parameter values.
Unexpected outbound queries or sudden spikes in database read volume against the boat booking schema.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the bid parameter for SQL syntax and block known injection patterns.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing tautologies such as OR 1=1 or stacked statements against boat-related tables.
Correlate authentication events with subsequent requests to /boat-details.php to identify accounts probing injection payloads.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward web server, application, and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation and retention.
Baseline normal bid parameter values (numeric, short length) and alert on deviations.
Monitor for credential dumps or schema enumeration patterns originating from the application service account.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-2471

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict external access to the PHPGurukul Boat Booking System until a patched build is deployed, using network ACLs or reverse-proxy authentication.
Audit application and database logs for prior exploitation attempts against /boat-details.php.
Rotate database credentials and any user passwords stored in the affected database if compromise is suspected.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been published by PHPGurukul at the time of writing. Administrators should monitor the PHP Gurukul Homepage for security updates and consider migrating to an actively maintained booking platform if a fix is not released.

Workarounds

Modify /boat-details.php to cast the bid parameter to an integer using intval() before use in any SQL statement.
Refactor database access to use prepared statements with parameter binding via PDO or MySQLi.
Deploy a WAF rule that blocks non-numeric values in the bid query string parameter.
Remove or disable the boat details page if it is not required for business operations.

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking non-numeric bid values
SecRule ARGS:bid "!@rx ^[0-9]+$" \
    "id:1002471,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
    msg:'CVE-2025-2471 - Non-numeric bid parameter blocked'"