CVE-2025-5299: Client Database Management System RCE Flaw

CVE-2025-5299 Overview

CVE-2025-5299 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability in SourceCodester Client Database Management System 1.0. The flaw resides in /user_order_customer_update.php, where the uploaded_file_cancelled parameter accepts arbitrary file uploads without validation. Attackers can exploit this issue remotely without authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and the exploit has been publicly disclosed.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can upload arbitrary files to the server through the uploaded_file_cancelled parameter, potentially leading to web shell deployment and compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

• Lerouxyxchire Client Database Management System 1.0
• SourceCodester Client Database Management System 1.0
• Component: /user_order_customer_update.php

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-28 - CVE-2025-5299 published to NVD
• 2025-06-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-5299

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability affects the file upload handler in /user_order_customer_update.php. The script processes the uploaded_file_cancelled parameter without enforcing file type, extension, or content validation. This permits attackers to submit files of any type, including server-executable scripts. Once uploaded to a web-accessible directory, the attacker can request the file to execute arbitrary code in the application context.

The issue is tracked by VulDB entry #310426 and a public GitHub issue documents the proof-of-concept disclosure.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper access control combined with missing input validation on uploaded files. The application does not validate the MIME type, file extension, or magic bytes of the uploaded_file_cancelled parameter. There is also no authentication or authorization gate restricting who can invoke the upload endpoint.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is the network. An unauthenticated remote attacker sends a crafted HTTP POST request to /user_order_customer_update.php containing a malicious payload in the uploaded_file_cancelled field. No privileges or user interaction are required. The vulnerability mechanism is described in the public VulDB advisory and the associated GitHub disclosure — readers should consult those references for the technical proof-of-concept details rather than synthesized code.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-5299

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP POST requests to /user_order_customer_update.php containing the uploaded_file_cancelled parameter with executable file types such as .php, .phtml, or .phar.
• Unexpected script files appearing in upload directories of the application.
• Outbound network connections originating from the web server process after a file upload event.
• Web server access logs showing anomalous user-agent strings or repeated requests to the vulnerable endpoint.

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web access logs for POST requests to /user_order_customer_update.php and correlate with file creation events in the application's upload directory.
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to flag multipart form submissions containing executable extensions on the affected endpoint.
• Monitor file integrity on directories writable by the web server to identify unauthorized new files.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the PHP interpreter and web server to capture script execution from upload directories.
• Forward web server and host telemetry into a centralized SIEM for correlation with process execution events.
• Alert on web server processes spawning shells, interpreters, or network utilities, which often indicates web shell activity.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-5299

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the application until a fix is applied, ideally placing it behind authentication or a VPN.
• Disable or block the /user_order_customer_update.php endpoint at the web server or reverse proxy layer.
• Audit existing upload directories for unauthorized files and remove any web shells or unknown scripts.
• Rotate credentials and secrets that may have been accessible from the compromised web server.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been published for CVE-2025-5299 at the time of this writing. SourceCodester and the upstream maintainer have not released a fixed version. Track the VulDB entry and the GitHub issue for vendor updates.

Workarounds

• Configure the web server to deny execution of scripts in upload directories using directives such as php_flag engine off or equivalent rules.
• Enforce server-side validation that whitelists allowed file extensions and verifies MIME type and magic bytes before persisting uploads.
• Require authentication and authorization checks on all file upload endpoints, including /user_order_customer_update.php.
• Rename uploaded files to non-executable names and store them outside the web root where feasible.

# Apache configuration example: block script execution in the uploads directory
<Directory "/var/www/cdms/uploads">
    php_flag engine off
    AddType text/plain .php .phtml .phar
    <FilesMatch "\.(php|phtml|phar|cgi|pl)$">
        Require all denied
    </FilesMatch>
</Directory>