CVE-2025-7130: Payroll Management System SQL Injection

CVE-2025-7130 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in Campcodes Payroll Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /ajax.php?action=delete_payroll endpoint, where improper sanitization of the ID parameter allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. This flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate database operations without authentication, potentially compromising sensitive payroll data and system integrity.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract, modify, or delete sensitive payroll data, potentially compromising employee financial information and organizational payroll records.

Affected Products

• Campcodes Payroll Management System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-07 - CVE-2025-7130 published to NVD
• 2025-07-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7130

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability occurs in the delete payroll functionality of the Campcodes Payroll Management System. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input through the ID parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. The vulnerability is accessible via the network and requires no authentication or user interaction to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing deployments.

The exploitation involves manipulating the ID parameter in AJAX requests to the delete_payroll action endpoint. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that escape the intended SQL context and execute arbitrary database commands. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of widespread exploitation against unpatched systems.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries (CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component). The application directly concatenates user input into SQL statements without proper sanitization or the use of prepared statements, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that alters the query logic.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, targeting the /ajax.php?action=delete_payroll endpoint. An attacker can send a crafted HTTP request with a manipulated ID parameter containing SQL injection payloads. Since no authentication is required, any remote attacker with network access to the application can exploit this vulnerability.

The attack works by injecting SQL metacharacters into the ID parameter. For example, instead of a legitimate numeric identifier, an attacker might supply payloads designed to extract database contents, modify records, or escalate privileges within the database system. The public disclosure of this exploit increases the likelihood that threat actors have access to working attack techniques. For technical details, see the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7130

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in web server logs referencing the /ajax.php?action=delete_payroll endpoint
• HTTP requests to /ajax.php containing SQL metacharacters (single quotes, double dashes, UNION statements) in the ID parameter
• Database audit logs showing unexpected queries, especially involving system tables or data extraction operations
• Anomalous delete operations in payroll tables that don't correlate with legitimate user actions

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in requests to /ajax.php
• Enable detailed logging for all requests to the Payroll Management System and monitor for suspicious parameter values
• Implement database activity monitoring to alert on unusual query patterns or access to sensitive tables
• Configure intrusion detection systems to flag requests containing common SQL injection payloads targeting the ID parameter

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web application logs for requests to /ajax.php?action=delete_payroll with non-numeric or malformed ID values
• Set up alerts for database errors that may indicate failed SQL injection attempts
• Review access logs for repeated requests to the delete_payroll endpoint from single IP addresses
• Implement real-time monitoring for any unauthorized data exfiltration from payroll database tables

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7130

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Payroll Management System to trusted IP ranges only
• Implement a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules
• Disable or restrict access to the /ajax.php?action=delete_payroll functionality until a patch is available
• Audit database logs for signs of compromise and verify data integrity

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no official patch has been released by Campcodes for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor the Campcodes website for security updates. Additional technical information is available through VulDB #315042.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the application level to ensure the ID parameter only accepts numeric values
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF configured to block requests containing SQL injection patterns
• Isolate the Payroll Management System on a segmented network with strict access controls
• Consider taking the application offline until proper security controls can be implemented

# Example WAF rule for Apache ModSecurity
SecRule ARGS:ID "!^[0-9]+$" "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Potential SQL Injection in ID parameter'"