CVE-2025-4244: Online Bus Reservation System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-4244 Overview

CVE-2025-4244 is a SQL injection vulnerability in code-projects Online Bus Reservation System 1.0. The flaw resides in /seatlocation.php, where the ID parameter is concatenated into a backend SQL query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements against the underlying database. The issue has been publicly disclosed, and exploit details are available in third-party vulnerability repositories. The weakness is categorized under CWE-74, improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component.

Critical Impact
Remote, authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the reservation system database, exposing or altering booking data, user records, and credentials.

Affected Products

code-projects Online Bus Reservation System 1.0
Component: /seatlocation.php
Parameter: ID

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-03 - CVE-2025-4244 published to NVD
2025-10-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-4244

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from unsanitized user input passed to a database query in /seatlocation.php. The application accepts the ID parameter directly from the HTTP request and interpolates it into a SQL statement. An attacker supplies SQL metacharacters in the ID value to alter query logic. Successful exploitation can expose booking records, customer data, and authentication tables. The attack is reachable over the network and requires low privileges and no user interaction.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of parameterized queries or prepared statements for handling the ID request parameter. The application concatenates request data into SQL strings, allowing the parser to treat injected operators and keywords as part of the original query. Input filtering and type enforcement on numeric identifiers are missing.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is remote and network-based over HTTP or HTTPS. An attacker issues a crafted request to /seatlocation.php?ID=<payload> using common SQL injection techniques such as UNION SELECT, boolean-based blind injection, or time-based blind injection. Because the exploit has been disclosed publicly through GitHub Vulnerability Exploration and VulDB #307335, automated scanners can readily incorporate this payload.

No verified exploit code is reproduced here. See the disclosed write-up referenced above for technical payload details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-4244

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /seatlocation.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, or -- in the ID parameter
Web server logs showing abnormally long or URL-encoded ID values
Database error messages referencing syntax errors triggered by seatlocation.php
Unexpected outbound data transfers from the application database tier following requests to the vulnerable endpoint

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL injection signatures targeting the ID parameter on /seatlocation.php
Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing tautologies such as OR 1=1 or stacked statements originating from the reservation application
Correlate HTTP request patterns with database errors to detect blind injection probing

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward web server and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation and retention
Establish baselines for request rates and parameter lengths on /seatlocation.php and alert on deviations
Monitor for repeated 500 responses or timing anomalies that indicate blind SQL injection attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-4244

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict public exposure of the Online Bus Reservation System until a fix is applied, using network ACLs or authentication proxies
Deploy WAF signatures to block SQL injection payloads targeting /seatlocation.php
Audit database accounts used by the application and revoke unnecessary privileges such as FILE, DROP, or administrative roles
Review logs for prior exploitation attempts dating back to May 2025

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is referenced in the NVD entry for CVE-2025-4244. code-projects Online Bus Reservation System 1.0 is distributed as a learning project through the Code Projects Resource Hub. Operators must apply source-level remediation by replacing dynamic SQL with prepared statements using PDO or MySQLi parameter binding, and by enforcing numeric type casting on the ID parameter.

Workarounds

Cast the ID parameter to an integer before use in any SQL statement, rejecting non-numeric input
Replace string-concatenated queries in /seatlocation.php with prepared statements bound to typed parameters
Apply least-privilege database credentials for the web application connection
Place the application behind an authenticated reverse proxy if it must remain accessible during remediation

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQLi patterns on the vulnerable endpoint
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@beginsWith /seatlocation.php" \
  "phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1004244,\
   chain,msg:'CVE-2025-4244 SQLi attempt'"
  SecRule ARGS:ID "@rx (?i)(union(\s|/\*.*\*/)+select|sleep\s*\(|--|';|\bor\b\s+1=1)" "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"