CVE-2025-4704: PHPGurukul Parking System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-4704 Overview

CVE-2025-4704 is a SQL injection vulnerability in PHPGurukul Vehicle Parking Management System version 1.13. The flaw resides in the /admin/edit-category.php file, where the editid parameter is passed to backend SQL queries without proper sanitization. Attackers can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements against the application database.

The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network and requires no authentication or user interaction. Public disclosure of the exploit technique has occurred, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed installations. The issue is classified under [CWE-89] (SQL Injection) and [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements).

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries through the editid parameter in /admin/edit-category.php, potentially exposing or modifying parking management data.

Affected Products

PHPGurukul Vehicle Parking Management System 1.13
Component: phpgurukul:vehicle_parking_management_system
Vulnerable endpoint: /admin/edit-category.php

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-15 - CVE-2025-4704 published to NVD
2025-05-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-4704

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the administrative category-editing functionality of PHPGurukul Vehicle Parking Management System 1.13. The /admin/edit-category.php script accepts an editid parameter via HTTP request and concatenates its value directly into a backend SQL query. Without parameterized queries or input validation, the database engine interprets attacker-controlled syntax as part of the SQL statement.

Successful exploitation grants the attacker the ability to read, modify, or delete data within the application database. Depending on database privileges and configuration, attackers may also extract administrator credentials, bypass authentication mechanisms, or pivot to further compromise. Public disclosure of the exploit details was tracked in VulDB #309002 and a GitHub Issue Discussion.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. The editid parameter flows from the HTTP request directly into a dynamically constructed query string. The application does not employ prepared statements, parameter binding, or whitelist validation on the input.

Attack Vector

Attackers submit a crafted HTTP request to /admin/edit-category.php with a malicious editid value. Because the endpoint is reachable over the network and exploitation requires no authentication, an attacker can send injected SQL payloads such as UNION-based extraction sequences or boolean-based blind injection probes. The attack can be automated using common SQL injection tooling against any exposed instance.

No verified exploit code is available in the referenced sources. See the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB #309002 CTI for technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-4704

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests targeting /admin/edit-category.php containing SQL metacharacters (', --, UNION, SELECT, OR 1=1) in the editid parameter.
Web server access logs showing abnormally long or encoded editid values from external IP addresses.
Database error messages or stack traces returned in HTTP responses following requests to the affected endpoint.
Unexpected administrative database queries or data modifications outside normal operating hours.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) signatures that flag SQL injection patterns against the editid parameter.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing tautologies, UNION operators, or comment sequences originating from the parking management application user.
Correlate HTTP request logs with database audit logs to identify parameter tampering against /admin/edit-category.php.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor for repeated 500-series HTTP responses from /admin/edit-category.php, which often indicate injection probing.
Track outbound connections from the database host that deviate from baseline behavior, indicating potential exfiltration.
Alert on access to the category table or administrative user records from the web application context.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-4704

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allowlisting or VPN-only access until a patch is applied.
Deploy WAF rules to block SQL injection payloads in the editid parameter of /admin/edit-category.php.
Audit database accounts used by the application and revoke unnecessary privileges such as FILE, CREATE, or DROP.
Review web server and database logs for prior exploitation attempts dating back to the public disclosure on 2025-05-15.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been published in the referenced advisories at the time of NVD publication. Refer to the PHP Gurukul Security Resource for vendor updates and to VulDB #309002 for tracking remediation status.

Workarounds

Replace dynamic SQL concatenation in /admin/edit-category.php with prepared statements using PDO or mysqli parameter binding.
Cast the editid value to an integer ((int)$_GET['editid']) before use in any query as a defensive measure.
Place the application behind a reverse proxy or WAF that performs request inspection and parameter validation.
Disable verbose database error messages in the production PHP configuration to limit information leakage during exploitation attempts.

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking SQL injection on editid parameter
SecRule ARGS:editid "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1004704,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
    msg:'CVE-2025-4704 SQLi attempt on edit-category.php',\
    logdata:'Matched editid=%{ARGS.editid}'"