CVE-2025-7135: Campcodes Recruitment System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-7135 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in Campcodes Online Recruitment Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability exists in the file /admin/ajax.php?action=save_vacancy, where improper handling of the ID argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands. The attack can be initiated remotely without authentication, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive recruitment data, database manipulation, or complete system compromise.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection flaw to extract, modify, or delete sensitive recruitment data from the database without authentication.

Affected Products

• Campcodes Online Recruitment Management System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-07 - CVE-2025-7135 published to NVD
• 2025-07-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7135

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability affects the administrative AJAX endpoint responsible for saving vacancy information. The /admin/ajax.php?action=save_vacancy endpoint fails to properly sanitize the ID parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This lack of input validation enables attackers to craft malicious requests that can manipulate database queries, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or extraction of sensitive information stored in the recruitment system's database.

The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects an administrative function within a recruitment management system, which typically stores sensitive personal information including applicant details, employment records, and potentially confidential company hiring data.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-7135 is improper input validation and sanitization of the ID argument in the save_vacancy action handler. The application directly incorporates user-supplied input into SQL queries without using parameterized queries or prepared statements, creating a classic SQL injection attack surface. This represents a CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) vulnerability pattern.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication and no user interaction. An attacker can remotely target the vulnerable endpoint by sending crafted HTTP requests to /admin/ajax.php?action=save_vacancy with malicious SQL payloads in the ID parameter. The manipulation allows injection of arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the database context.

The vulnerability mechanism involves the direct concatenation of user input into SQL query strings. When a malicious value is supplied for the ID parameter, it breaks out of the intended query structure and allows execution of attacker-controlled SQL statements. See the GitHub Issue CVE-22 Discussion for additional technical details on the exploitation method.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7135

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to /admin/ajax.php?action=save_vacancy containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, double dashes, UNION keywords, or semicolons in the ID parameter
• Unusual database query patterns or errors in web server and database logs originating from the AJAX endpoint
• Unexpected data modifications or extractions in recruitment system database tables

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the /admin/ajax.php endpoint
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns, particularly those involving UNION-based or time-based blind injection techniques
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on HTTP requests containing common SQL injection payloads directed at the affected application

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all requests to administrative endpoints, particularly /admin/ajax.php
• Monitor database logs for query execution errors, unexpected UNION statements, or unusual SELECT patterns
• Set up alerts for any access attempts to the vulnerable endpoint from external or untrusted IP addresses

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7135

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the administrative interface (/admin/) to trusted IP addresses only using firewall rules or .htaccess restrictions
• Implement web application firewall rules to block common SQL injection attack patterns
• Consider temporarily disabling the vacancy management functionality until a patch is available
• Audit database logs for evidence of prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

As of the last update on 2025-07-09, no official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor the Campcodes Security Blog for security updates and patch announcements. Additional vulnerability details are available through VulDB #315047.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the application level to sanitize the ID parameter, accepting only numeric values
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF with SQL injection detection capabilities in front of the application
• Restrict access to the /admin/ directory using IP-based access controls or VPN requirements
• If source code access is available, modify the affected endpoint to use parameterized queries or prepared statements

# Example: Restrict admin access via Apache .htaccess
<Directory "/path/to/app/admin">
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
    Allow from 10.0.0.0/8
</Directory>