CVE-2025-4023 Overview
A critical SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in itsourcecode Placement Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /add_company.php file, where improper sanitization of the Name parameter allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands. This flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate database queries without authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data, bypass authentication mechanisms, or potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying database server.
Affected Products
- Angeljudesuarez Placement Management System 1.0
- itsourcecode Placement Management System 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-28 - CVE CVE-2025-4023 published to NVD
- 2025-05-14 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-4023
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands within the /add_company.php endpoint. The Name parameter accepts user-supplied input that is directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL syntax that alters the intended query logic.
The vulnerability is classified under both CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component). The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of active exploitation. Additionally, other parameters within the same file may also be vulnerable to similar injection attacks.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries (prepared statements) when handling user input in the Name parameter of /add_company.php. The application directly concatenates user-supplied data into SQL query strings, allowing malicious actors to escape the intended query context and execute arbitrary SQL commands.
Attack Vector
The attack can be initiated remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the /add_company.php endpoint, embedding SQL injection payloads within the Name parameter. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to:
- Extract sensitive information from the database including user credentials
- Modify or delete database records
- Bypass authentication controls
- Potentially escalate to remote code execution depending on database configuration
The vulnerability affects the company creation functionality, where the Name parameter is processed without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage boolean-based, time-based, or union-based SQL injection techniques to extract data or manipulate database operations. For detailed technical information, refer to the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion and VulDB #306377.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-4023
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual or malformed HTTP requests to /add_company.php containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes ('), double dashes (--), or semicolons (;)
- Database error messages appearing in application logs or HTTP responses
- Unexpected database queries with UNION, SELECT, or other SQL keywords in web server logs
- Abnormal database activity including unauthorized data extraction or modification
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the Name parameter
- Monitor web server access logs for requests to /add_company.php containing suspicious SQL syntax
- Deploy database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access
- Configure application logging to capture and alert on database errors or SQL exceptions
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for the /add_company.php endpoint and review logs for injection attempts
- Set up real-time alerting for WAF-blocked requests indicating SQL injection attempts
- Monitor database query logs for unexpected or unauthorized SELECT, UNION, or DELETE operations
- Implement intrusion detection signatures for common SQL injection payloads
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-4023
Immediate Actions Required
- Remove or restrict access to the Placement Management System until a patch is available or mitigations are implemented
- Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection prevention rules
- Apply input validation to reject SQL metacharacters in the Name parameter
- Review and audit all database-connected endpoints for similar vulnerabilities
Patch Information
No official vendor patch is currently available for this vulnerability. Users should monitor the IT Source Code website for security updates. In the absence of an official patch, organizations should implement the workarounds and defensive measures described below.
Workarounds
- Implement prepared statements (parameterized queries) for all database interactions in /add_company.php
- Deploy a WAF configured to block SQL injection payloads targeting the application
- Apply strict input validation to whitelist only alphanumeric characters for the Name parameter
- Restrict network access to the application to trusted IP addresses only
# Example Apache mod_security rule to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:Name "@rx (?i)(\bunion\b|\bselect\b|\binsert\b|\bupdate\b|\bdelete\b|\bdrop\b|--|;|')" \
"id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection attempt blocked in Name parameter'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
