CVE-2025-3534: PowerCreator CMS SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-3534 Overview

CVE-2025-3534 is a SQL injection vulnerability in PowerCreator CMS 1.0. The flaw exists in the /OpenPublicCourse.aspx endpoint, where the cid parameter is passed to a backend database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate this parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable and requires low-level authenticated access. Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic exploitation. The vendor was contacted about the disclosure but did not respond, leaving affected deployments without an official patch. The issue maps to [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can inject SQL through the cid parameter of /OpenPublicCourse.aspx, potentially exposing or altering database content in PowerCreator CMS 1.0.

Affected Products

PowerCreator CMS 1.0
/OpenPublicCourse.aspx endpoint (cid parameter)
Deployments without vendor patch (vendor did not respond to disclosure)

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-13 - CVE-2025-3534 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-3534

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in an unspecified function of /OpenPublicCourse.aspx in PowerCreator CMS 1.0. The cid request parameter flows into a SQL query without proper validation or parameterization. An attacker supplies crafted SQL syntax in the cid value, which the application concatenates into the query executed against the backend database.

Successful exploitation can disclose database contents, modify records, or manipulate application logic that depends on query results. The classification under [CWE-74] reflects the improper neutralization of special elements passed to a downstream interpreter. Because the endpoint appears to be reachable over the network and exploit details are public, opportunistic scanning is a realistic threat.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation and lack of parameterized queries when handling the cid argument. User-controlled input is directly incorporated into a SQL statement, allowing syntax-breaking characters to alter query structure.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker sends an HTTP request to /OpenPublicCourse.aspx with a malicious cid value. No user interaction is required. The public disclosure of the exploit lowers the technical barrier for reproduction. Refer to the VulDB entry #304572 and the PowerCreator repository for additional context.

No verified proof-of-concept code is included here. Consult the linked VulDB submission for disclosed technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3534

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /OpenPublicCourse.aspx containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, ;, UNION, or SELECT in the cid parameter.
Web server or IIS logs showing repeated requests to OpenPublicCourse.aspx with unusually long or encoded cid values.
Database errors or anomalous query patterns originating from the CMS application account.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall signatures that inspect the cid parameter for SQL injection payloads.
Correlate web access logs with database audit logs to identify parameter manipulation followed by unusual query activity.
Alert on error responses from OpenPublicCourse.aspx that indicate SQL syntax errors returned to clients.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose HTTP logging for the CMS host and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform.
Monitor outbound database traffic from the CMS application for unexpected UNION, INFORMATION_SCHEMA, or bulk data queries.
Track authentication events for CMS accounts to identify credential misuse preceding injection attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3534

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the PowerCreator CMS 1.0 administrative and course endpoints using firewall rules or VPN gating.
Deploy WAF rules that block SQL injection payloads targeting the cid parameter of /OpenPublicCourse.aspx.
Review database audit logs for anomalous queries originating from the CMS service account since the CVE publication date.
Rotate credentials and secrets accessible to the CMS database user if compromise is suspected.

Patch Information

No vendor patch is available. VulDB records that the vendor did not respond to the disclosure. Organizations running PowerCreator CMS 1.0 should evaluate migration to a supported CMS or implement compensating controls until an official fix is released. Track updates via VulDB CTI #304572.

Workarounds

Place the CMS behind a reverse proxy that enforces strict parameter validation on cid values (numeric-only where applicable).
Apply least-privilege permissions to the database account used by the CMS to limit the blast radius of successful injection.
Disable or remove the OpenPublicCourse.aspx endpoint if the public course feature is not required.
Perform regular backups and integrity checks of the CMS database to detect and recover from unauthorized modification.

bash

# Example: block requests with SQL metacharacters in cid using an NGINX reverse proxy
location /OpenPublicCourse.aspx {
    if ($arg_cid ~* "('|;|--|union|select|insert|update|delete|drop|/\*)") {
        return 403;
    }
    proxy_pass http://powercreator_backend;
}