CVE-2025-3696: Pharmacy Management System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-3696 Overview

CVE-2025-3696 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Web-based Pharmacy Product Management System version 1.0. The flaw resides in /search/search_stock.php, where the Name parameter is concatenated into a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers can inject arbitrary SQL statements through this parameter without requiring user interaction. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed instances. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).

Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can manipulate database queries through the Name parameter in search_stock.php, potentially exposing or altering pharmacy stock and customer data.

Affected Products

Senior-walter Web-based Pharmacy Product Management System 1.0
Component: /search/search_stock.php
Vulnerable parameter: Name

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-16 - CVE-2025-3696 published to NVD
2025-05-14 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-3696

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from unsanitized user input passed to a SQL query in /search/search_stock.php. The application accepts the Name parameter from a search form and concatenates it directly into a query targeting the pharmacy stock database. Attackers can supply SQL metacharacters and crafted payloads to alter the query logic.

Successful exploitation allows attackers to read arbitrary tables, enumerate database schema, or modify stored records. Because the attack is delivered over the network with low privileges and no user interaction, automated scanners can identify and exploit affected endpoints at scale. Public disclosure of the technique on GitHub and VulDB increases exposure risk for any internet-facing deployment.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in SQL queries [CWE-74]. The Name argument is incorporated into the query without parameterized statements, prepared statements, or input validation routines. Any database driver that interprets the injected metacharacters processes the attacker-controlled fragment as part of the query.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends an HTTP request to the /search/search_stock.php endpoint containing a malicious value in the Name parameter. The injected payload terminates the original query context and appends attacker-controlled SQL clauses such as UNION SELECT statements or boolean-based blind injection probes. No authentication bypass is required beyond standard application access. Refer to the GitHub SQL Injection Documentation for the published proof-of-concept details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3696

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /search/search_stock.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or /* in the Name parameter.
Database error messages returned in HTTP responses referencing MySQL syntax errors originating from the search endpoint.
Unexpected outbound traffic or large response payloads from the pharmacy application following search requests.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) signatures that flag SQL injection patterns in query string and POST parameters to search_stock.php.
Enable database query logging and alert on UNION-based or stacked query patterns originating from the web application user.
Correlate web server access logs with database audit logs to identify anomalous query structures tied to search requests.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor the pharmacy application's HTTP access logs for repeated 500 errors or unusual response sizes on the search endpoint.
Track failed and successful authentication events alongside search activity to detect automated exploitation attempts.
Review database accounts used by the web application for queries outside normal application behavior, such as schema enumeration against information_schema.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3696

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the Web-based Pharmacy Product Management System until a patched version is available.
Place the application behind a WAF with SQL injection rule sets enabled and tuned for the /search/search_stock.php endpoint.
Audit the database account used by the application and remove unnecessary privileges such as FILE, DROP, or administrative roles.

Patch Information

No vendor patch is listed in the available references for this vulnerability. Administrators should monitor SourceCodester Security Resources and the VulDB CTI Report #304984 for updates. Until an official fix is published, modify the application source to replace string concatenation with prepared statements using parameterized placeholders.

Workarounds

Rewrite the query in search_stock.php to use PDO or MySQLi prepared statements with bound parameters for the Name argument.
Apply server-side input validation that rejects characters outside an expected allowlist for product name searches.
Enable database-level query whitelisting or stored procedure-only access to limit the impact of injected SQL.
If the application is not required, take it offline until the code is remediated.

bash

# Configuration example: example PHP fix using PDO prepared statements
$stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM stock WHERE name LIKE :name');
$stmt->execute([':name' => '%' . $userInput . '%']);
$results = $stmt->fetchAll();