CVE-2025-4765: Zoo Management System SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-4765 Overview

A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in PHPGurukul Zoo Management System version 2.1. This vulnerability exists in the /admin/contactus.php file, where improper handling of the mobnum parameter allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL Injection flaw to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially compromise the entire application backend through the vulnerable mobnum parameter.

Affected Products

• PHPGurukul Zoo Management System version 2.1

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-16 - CVE-2025-4765 published to NVD
• 2025-05-27 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-4765

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) arises from insufficient input validation in the /admin/contactus.php file of the Zoo Management System. The mobnum parameter is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterized query usage, creating a classic injection point that attackers can exploit to manipulate database operations.

The vulnerability falls under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) and more specifically CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command). The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of active exploitation attempts.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The mobnum parameter in the contact us functionality accepts user input that is directly concatenated into SQL statements without using prepared statements, parameterized queries, or input validation. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack can be launched remotely over the network without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the /admin/contactus.php endpoint, injecting SQL syntax through the mobnum parameter. This could enable data exfiltration through UNION-based injection, authentication bypass, data manipulation through UPDATE or DELETE statements, or potentially command execution if database privileges allow.

The vulnerability mechanism involves manipulation of the mobnum parameter in HTTP requests to the /admin/contactus.php endpoint. Attackers can inject SQL metacharacters and commands that alter the intended query logic. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-4765

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages appearing in application logs or responses from /admin/contactus.php
• Suspicious characters in mobnum parameter values such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords (UNION, SELECT, DROP)
• Anomalous database queries or unexpected database activity patterns
• Web application firewall alerts for SQL injection patterns targeting the contact us functionality

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in requests to /admin/contactus.php
• Implement application-level logging to capture and alert on suspicious parameter values containing SQL syntax
• Monitor database query logs for abnormal queries originating from the contact us module
• Enable intrusion detection system (IDS) signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Review access logs for the /admin/contactus.php endpoint for unusual request patterns or high-frequency access
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unauthorized data access or modification
• Configure alerts for failed SQL queries that may indicate injection attempts
• Regularly audit database tables for unexpected changes or data exfiltration indicators

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-4765

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /admin/contactus.php endpoint until a patch is applied
• Implement web application firewall rules to block SQL injection attempts against the affected parameter
• Review and audit all user inputs in the Zoo Management System for similar injection vulnerabilities
• Consider taking the affected functionality offline if it is not business-critical

Patch Information

No official patch from the vendor has been announced at the time of publication. Organizations using PHPGurukul Zoo Management System 2.1 should monitor the PHP Gurukul website for security updates. In the absence of an official fix, implementing input validation and prepared statements in the affected code is strongly recommended.

For additional technical details and updates, refer to the VulDB entry and the GitHub Issue Discussion.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation to reject special characters and SQL keywords in the mobnum parameter
• Modify the vulnerable code to use prepared statements or parameterized queries instead of string concatenation
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF with SQL injection protection enabled
• Restrict network access to the admin panel to trusted IP addresses only
• Consider disabling the contact us functionality temporarily if feasible

# Example WAF rule to block SQL injection in mobnum parameter (ModSecurity)
SecRule ARGS:mobnum "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt blocked in mobnum parameter - CVE-2025-4765'"