CVE-2025-3168: Time Table Generator System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-3168 Overview

CVE-2025-3168 is a SQL injection vulnerability in PHPGurukul Time Table Generator System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /admin/edit-class.php endpoint, where the editid parameter is passed directly to a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers can manipulate this parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements against the backend database. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic abuse against exposed instances. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89] (SQL Injection) and [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can inject SQL through the editid parameter, potentially exposing or modifying administrative data in the timetable system.

Affected Products

PHPGurukul Time Table Generator System 1.0
Component: /admin/edit-class.php
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:phpgurukul:time_table_generator_system:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-03 - CVE-2025-3168 published to NVD
2025-05-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-3168

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the administrative class-editing functionality of the PHPGurukul Time Table Generator System. The edit-class.php script accepts the editid parameter from the request and concatenates it into a SQL query without parameterized statements or input validation. An attacker can append SQL operators, UNION clauses, or boolean conditions to alter query semantics. Successful exploitation may allow attackers to read arbitrary tables, modify records, or enumerate database schema.

The issue is network-reachable and requires no authentication or user interaction. Because the affected route is part of the admin panel, successful injection can compromise scheduling data, user credentials stored in the database, and any sensitive operational records.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of input used in a SQL statement [CWE-89]. The editid value flows from an HTTP request parameter into a query string that is executed against the database without binding or escaping. Standard mitigations such as mysqli prepared statements or PDO parameter binding are absent in the affected code path.

Attack Vector

The attack is delivered over HTTP/HTTPS to the /admin/edit-class.php endpoint. An attacker supplies a crafted editid query string value containing SQL syntax. Typical payloads include boolean-based tests such as editid=1 AND 1=1, error-based variants, time-based blind techniques using SLEEP(), and UNION-based extraction queries. Public disclosure of the technique via the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion lowers the skill barrier for exploitation.

No verified proof-of-concept code is reproduced here. See the VulDB CTI ID #303127 entry for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3168

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /admin/edit-class.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP in the editid parameter.
Web server access logs showing repeated requests to edit-class.php with varying editid values from a single source.
Database error messages or unusually long response times correlated with requests to the admin endpoint.
Outbound database queries originating from the PHP application that reference information_schema or system tables.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to identify SQL injection signatures targeting the editid parameter.
Enable verbose query logging on the MySQL backend and alert on queries containing suspicious tautologies or UNION operators.
Correlate web access logs with database audit logs to surface anomalous query patterns tied to admin endpoints.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor authentication and session activity around the admin interface for signs of post-exploitation access.
Alert on bulk data reads from the application database account, particularly across schema tables.
Track HTTP 500 responses and unusual response time distributions on admin PHP scripts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3168

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allow-listing or VPN-only access until a fix is applied.
Place the application behind a WAF with SQL injection rule sets tuned for the editid parameter.
Audit the database for unauthorized modifications, new administrative accounts, or unexpected schema changes.

Patch Information

No vendor patch has been published in the references available for CVE-2025-3168. Administrators should monitor the PHP Gurukul Security Resources page for updated releases. In the absence of an official patch, applying parameterized queries via mysqli_prepare() or PDO with bound parameters in edit-class.php is the recommended code-level fix.

Workarounds

Replace direct string concatenation in edit-class.php with prepared statements that bind editid as an integer parameter.
Enforce server-side input validation that rejects any non-numeric editid value before it reaches the database layer.
Apply least-privilege principles to the database account used by the application, removing rights to information_schema reads and DDL statements where possible.

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking SQLi patterns on the editid parameter
SecRule ARGS:editid "@rx (?i)(union(\s|/\*.*\*/)+select|sleep\s*\(|--|';|/\*)" \
    "id:1003168,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2025-3168 SQLi attempt on editid'"