CVE-2025-4173 Overview
CVE-2025-4173 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Eyewear Shop 1.0, a PHP-based e-commerce application developed by oretnom23. The flaw resides in the delete_cart function within /oews/classes/Master.php, where the id parameter is passed unsanitized into a SQL query. Remote attackers with low-level privileges can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic abuse against exposed deployments. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).
Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can inject SQL statements through the cart deletion endpoint, exposing database contents and enabling unauthorized data modification.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Online Eyewear Shop 1.0
- oretnom23 online_eyewear_shop 1.0
- Deployments using /oews/classes/Master.php?f=delete_cart
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-01 - CVE-2025-4173 published to NVD
- 2025-05-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-4173
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability affects the delete_cart function in /oews/classes/Master.php, which handles cart item removal requests submitted through the f=delete_cart action. The function accepts an id argument from the HTTP request and concatenates it directly into a SQL DELETE statement without parameterization or input filtering. An attacker can supply a crafted id value containing SQL syntax to alter the executed query. This enables data extraction through techniques such as UNION-based or boolean-based blind SQL injection. Public disclosure of exploitation details lowers the barrier for opportunistic attacks against internet-exposed installations.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input validation and the absence of prepared statements in the delete_cart handler. User-controlled input flows directly into the SQL query string, allowing query structure manipulation. This pattern is consistent with [CWE-74] injection weaknesses and is common in PHP applications that build queries using string concatenation rather than parameter binding through PDO or mysqli_prepare.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the application and a low-privilege authenticated session. The attacker sends an HTTP request to /oews/classes/Master.php?f=delete_cart with a malicious id parameter. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own request. Because the endpoint is reachable over the network, attackers can automate scans against exposed instances. Refer to the GitHub CVE Markdown Document and VulDB #306793 for additional technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-4173
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to /oews/classes/Master.php?f=delete_cart containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, or SLEEP in the id parameter.
- Unexpected database errors or anomalous query execution times logged by the MySQL or MariaDB backend.
- Web access logs showing repeated delete_cart requests from a single source with varying id payloads.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect query parameters for SQL injection signatures targeting the delete_cart endpoint.
- Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically malformed queries originating from the Online Eyewear Shop application user.
- Correlate authentication events with high-volume cart deletion attempts to identify automated exploitation activity.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward web server and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for retrospective hunting against the id parameter.
- Monitor outbound database response sizes from the application server for anomalies that suggest bulk data exfiltration.
- Track repeated 500-series HTTP responses from Master.php, which often indicate failed injection attempts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-4173
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network exposure of the Online Eyewear Shop application until a patched build is available.
- Apply WAF rules that block SQL metacharacters in the id parameter of delete_cart requests.
- Audit application database accounts and rotate credentials if exploitation is suspected.
- Review web logs since the application's deployment for indicators of prior exploitation.
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been published at the time of the NVD entry. Administrators should monitor the SourceCodester Security Resources page and the VulDB entry for updates. Until a fix is released, organizations should consider replacing the affected code path with parameterized queries using PDO or mysqli prepared statements.
Workarounds
- Modify delete_cart in /oews/classes/Master.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters instead of string concatenation.
- Enforce server-side input validation requiring the id parameter to be a positive integer before processing.
- Limit database account privileges so the application user cannot execute schema modifications or read unrelated tables.
# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking SQLi patterns on the vulnerable endpoint
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /oews/classes/Master.php" \
"chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1004173,msg:'CVE-2025-4173 SQLi attempt'"
SecRule ARGS:id "@rx (?i)(union|select|sleep|--|'|\")" "t:none"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
