CVE-2025-7163: Zoo Management System SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-7163 Overview

CVE-2025-7163 is a SQL injection vulnerability in PHPGurukul Zoo Management System 2.1. The flaw exists in the /admin/add-animals.php script, where the cnum parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit can be launched remotely over the network, and public disclosure of the issue has occurred. The vulnerability maps to [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low-privileged admin panel access can manipulate the cnum parameter in /admin/add-animals.php to execute arbitrary SQL queries against the backend database.

Affected Products

PHPGurukul Zoo Management System 2.1
Component: /admin/add-animals.php
Vendor: PHPGurukul

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-7163 published to NVD
2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7163

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the administrative add-animals workflow of PHPGurukul Zoo Management System 2.1. The cnum request parameter, processed by /admin/add-animals.php, is concatenated into a SQL statement without parameterized binding or input sanitization. An attacker submitting crafted input can alter the query logic, read arbitrary records, modify data, or pivot to broader database compromise.

Exploitation requires low-level authenticated access to the admin interface, reducing the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already obtained admin credentials. According to the EPSS dataset, the probability of exploitation in the wild is 0.318% (23rd percentile), and no public exploit weaponization has been catalogued in CISA KEV.

The weakness is classified under [CWE-74] as an injection flaw. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the backing database, though scope remains constrained to the application tier.

Root Cause

The root cause is direct interpolation of the cnum HTTP parameter into a SQL query string. The application does not employ prepared statements or input validation routines for the affected parameter. Any quote, comment, or boolean operator supplied by the attacker is interpreted by the MySQL backend.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, targeting the /admin/add-animals.php endpoint over HTTP. The attacker must hold authenticated administrative session privileges. Exploitation requires no user interaction and no specialized tooling beyond a standard HTTP client or SQL injection automation utility. The vulnerability manifests when malformed input is appended to the cnum parameter during a request to the affected endpoint. See the GitHub Issue Report for the original disclosure details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7163

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP POST or GET requests to /admin/add-animals.php containing SQL meta-characters such as ', --, UNION, or SLEEP( in the cnum parameter.
Unexpected MySQL error messages in web server logs originating from the add-animals workflow.
Anomalous database query patterns referencing tables outside the animals schema during admin sessions.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) signatures targeting SQL injection payloads on the cnum parameter.
Enable database query logging and correlate slow or malformed queries against admin panel access logs.
Inspect application logs for repeated 500-series HTTP responses from /admin/add-animals.php.

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on authenticated admin sessions that submit cnum values containing non-numeric characters.
Monitor for outbound data transfers immediately following admin requests to the affected endpoint.
Track failed login attempts against the admin interface to identify credential stuffing that precedes exploitation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7163

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allowlists or VPN-only access until a patch is available.
Rotate administrative credentials and enforce strong password policies on all admin accounts.
Review database audit logs for unauthorized SELECT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements issued through the application user.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been published at the time of this writing. Consult the PHP Gurukul Blog and the VulDB advisory for updates. Organizations running version 2.1 should consider migrating away from the affected build or applying source-level fixes that replace string concatenation with prepared statements using mysqli_prepare() or PDO parameter binding.

Workarounds

Apply a WAF rule that blocks SQL meta-characters in the cnum parameter on requests to /admin/add-animals.php.
Implement server-side input validation to enforce a numeric-only constraint on cnum before query execution.
Disable or remove the add-animals administrative function if it is not required for production operations.

bash

# Example ModSecurity rule to block SQL injection on the cnum parameter
SecRule ARGS:cnum "@rx [^0-9]" \
  "id:1007163,\
   phase:2,\
   deny,\
   status:403,\
   msg:'CVE-2025-7163: Non-numeric value submitted to cnum parameter',\
   tag:'CWE-74',\
   tag:'PHPGurukul-ZMS'"