CVE-2025-3118 Overview
A critical SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Online Tutor Portal version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the file /tutor/courses/view_course.php where the ID parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in database queries. This allows remote authenticated attackers to manipulate SQL queries through malicious input, potentially compromising the entire database backend.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection flaw to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially escalate access within the Online Tutor Portal application.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Online Tutor Portal 1.0
- oretnom23 online_tutor_portal
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-02 - CVE-2025-3118 published to NVD
- 2025-04-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-3118
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) affects the course viewing functionality within SourceCodester Online Tutor Portal. The application fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input to the ID parameter in the view_course.php endpoint. When a malicious user submits a crafted request containing SQL metacharacters, the application incorporates this input directly into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization.
The vulnerability also falls under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), as the application fails to neutralize SQL special elements before passing data to the database engine. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the /tutor/courses/view_course.php file. The ID parameter is directly concatenated into SQL queries without using prepared statements or parameterized queries. This classic SQL injection pattern allows attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that alters the intended query behavior.
The vulnerable code likely constructs database queries using string concatenation, such as directly embedding the ID parameter value into a SELECT statement without sanitization or type validation.
Attack Vector
The attack can be initiated remotely over the network by any authenticated user. An attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request to the view_course.php endpoint with a malicious payload in the ID parameter. The payload contains SQL syntax designed to manipulate the query execution.
For example, an attacker could submit requests to the vulnerable endpoint containing SQL injection payloads such as UNION-based injections to extract data from other tables, boolean-based blind injection to enumerate database contents, or time-based blind injection techniques. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of exploitation in the wild.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3118
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual database query patterns in application logs, particularly involving the view_course.php endpoint
- HTTP requests to /tutor/courses/view_course.php containing SQL syntax in the ID parameter (e.g., single quotes, UNION statements, OR 1=1 patterns)
- Database errors logged indicating SQL syntax issues or unexpected query results
- Abnormal data access patterns or bulk data extraction from the database
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the ID parameter
- Implement application-layer monitoring to flag requests containing SQL metacharacters (quotes, semicolons, comment sequences)
- Enable detailed database logging to capture and alert on suspicious query patterns
- Configure intrusion detection systems to monitor traffic to the view_course.php endpoint
Monitoring Recommendations
- Review web server access logs for repeated requests to view_course.php with varying ID values
- Monitor database server logs for syntax errors or unusual UNION SELECT queries
- Implement real-time alerting for SQL injection attempt patterns in security information and event management (SIEM) systems
- Track user session activity for anomalous behavior following course view requests
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3118
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the Online Tutor Portal to trusted users only until a patch is available
- Implement web application firewall rules to filter SQL injection patterns
- Review and sanitize all user inputs in the view_course.php file
- Consider taking the vulnerable endpoint offline if not critical to operations
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been released at this time. Organizations using SourceCodester Online Tutor Portal 1.0 should monitor SourceCodester for security updates. Additional technical details and community advisories are available through the VulDB Advisory.
Workarounds
- Implement input validation to ensure the ID parameter only accepts numeric values
- Modify the application code to use prepared statements with parameterized queries
- Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF with SQL injection filtering capabilities
- Apply principle of least privilege to database accounts used by the application
# Example: Apache mod_security rule to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:ID "@rx (\%27)|(\')|(\-\-)|(\%23)|(#)" \
"id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection Attempt Detected'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
