CVE-2025-3334: Online Restaurant Management System SQLi

CVE-2025-3334 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in codeprojects Online Restaurant Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /admin/category_save.php file, where the Category parameter is improperly validated before being used in database queries. This flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to bypass authentication, extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete records, and potentially gain further access to the underlying system.

Affected Products

• Code-projects Online Restaurant Management System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-04-07 - CVE-2025-3334 published to NVD
• 2025-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-3334

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation in the category management functionality of the Online Restaurant Management System. The affected endpoint /admin/category_save.php accepts a Category parameter that is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization.

The SQL injection flaw allows attackers to manipulate the intended query logic by inserting specially crafted input containing SQL metacharacters. Since the attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction, remote adversaries can exploit this vulnerability to interact directly with the backend database. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized disclosure of confidential data, corruption of database integrity, and potential service disruption.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89). The application fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user-supplied input in the Category parameter before incorporating it into SQL statements. Additionally, this falls under the broader category of improper neutralization of special elements in output (CWE-74), indicating a fundamental lack of input validation mechanisms in the affected code path.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploited via network-based requests targeting the /admin/category_save.php endpoint. An attacker crafts malicious input containing SQL injection payloads within the Category parameter. When the application processes this input and constructs the SQL query without proper escaping or parameterization, the injected SQL commands are executed against the database server.

A typical exploitation scenario involves sending a POST request to the vulnerable endpoint with a malformed Category value containing SQL syntax. This allows the attacker to perform various database operations such as extracting table contents via UNION-based injection, inferring data through blind SQL injection techniques, or executing database-specific commands to escalate the attack.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3334

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed HTTP requests to /admin/category_save.php containing SQL metacharacters (quotes, semicolons, UNION statements, comment sequences)
• Database error messages appearing in web application logs or responses indicating SQL syntax errors
• Unexpected database queries or query execution patterns in database audit logs
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized data access in database transaction logs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the Category parameter
• Monitor web server access logs for requests to /admin/category_save.php with suspicious query strings or POST data
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access attempts
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on SQL injection attack signatures

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the affected web application endpoint to capture all request parameters
• Set up alerts for database errors or exceptions that may indicate injection attempts
• Monitor for bulk data extraction patterns that could suggest successful exploitation
• Review authentication and session logs for unauthorized administrative access

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3334

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the /admin/category_save.php endpoint using firewall rules or web server configuration
• Implement input validation and sanitization for the Category parameter at the application level
• Deploy WAF rules specifically targeting SQL injection attempts against this endpoint
• Consider temporarily disabling the vulnerable functionality until a permanent fix is applied

Patch Information

No vendor-provided patch information is currently available. Users should monitor the VulDB entry and the GitHub issue discussion for updates regarding security fixes from the vendor. Given the lack of official remediation guidance, organizations should prioritize implementing defensive measures and consider replacing the affected software if critical functionality depends on the vulnerable component.

Workarounds

• Implement prepared statements (parameterized queries) in the affected PHP code to prevent SQL injection
• Apply strict input validation using allowlists for the Category parameter, rejecting any input containing SQL metacharacters
• Use a web application firewall to filter malicious requests before they reach the application
• Restrict access to administrative endpoints like /admin/category_save.php to trusted IP addresses only
• Consider running the application with a database user that has minimal privileges to limit the impact of successful exploitation

# Example: Restrict access to admin directory via Apache .htaccess
# Place in /admin/.htaccess
<Files "category_save.php">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>