CVE-2025-7169: Crime Reporting System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-7169 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Crime Reporting System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /complainer_page.php file, where the location parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in database queries. This flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL statements through the vulnerable parameter, potentially compromising the underlying database and sensitive crime reporting data.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract, modify, or delete sensitive data from the crime reporting database, potentially compromising citizen complaint records and law enforcement information.

Affected Products

• code-projects Crime Reporting System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-7169 published to NVD
• 2025-07-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7169

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the Crime Reporting System's complainer page functionality. The application fails to sanitize user-supplied input in the location parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to craft malicious input that alters the intended query logic, enabling unauthorized database operations.

The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication, meaning any network-accessible attacker can target the vulnerable endpoint. Given that this is a crime reporting system, the database likely contains sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) from complainants, case details, and potentially law enforcement data.

Root Cause

The root cause is a classic CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) vulnerability. The /complainer_page.php script directly concatenates user input from the location parameter into SQL queries without proper parameterization or input sanitization. This allows special SQL characters and commands to escape the intended data context and execute as database commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and can be executed remotely. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the /complainer_page.php endpoint with a malicious payload in the location parameter. The payload contains SQL injection syntax designed to manipulate the backend database query.

The vulnerability is exploited by injecting SQL metacharacters (such as single quotes, comment sequences, or UNION statements) into the location parameter. The attack can be conducted using standard HTTP requests, requiring no special tools beyond a web browser or command-line utilities. For detailed technical information, refer to the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion and VulDB entry #315108.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7169

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed requests to /complainer_page.php containing SQL syntax in the location parameter
• Database error messages in application logs indicating malformed SQL queries
• Unexpected database queries accessing multiple tables or using UNION-based injection patterns
• Anomalous data extraction patterns or large result sets from the complainer page

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules targeting the /complainer_page.php endpoint
• Implement application-layer logging to capture all requests to the vulnerable endpoint for forensic analysis
• Configure database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing SQL injection patterns such as ', --, UNION, or SELECT in URL parameters
• Enable database query logging and alert on queries with suspicious constructs or syntax errors
• Track and alert on failed or unusual authentication attempts following exploitation activity
• Review database user privileges and monitor for unauthorized privilege escalation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7169

Immediate Actions Required

• Take the Crime Reporting System offline or restrict network access to trusted IP addresses until a patch is available
• Implement a web application firewall (WAF) rule to block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the location parameter
• Audit database access logs for signs of prior exploitation and data exfiltration
• Review and backup current database contents to establish a known-good recovery point

Patch Information

No official patch information is currently available from code-projects. Organizations should monitor the Code Projects website and the VulDB entry for updates on remediation guidance. Given the public disclosure of this vulnerability, upgrading or applying mitigations is strongly recommended.

Workarounds

• Implement prepared statements or parameterized queries in the /complainer_page.php file to prevent SQL injection
• Apply strict input validation to the location parameter, allowing only expected alphanumeric characters
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF with SQL injection filtering capabilities in front of the application
• Restrict database user permissions to the minimum required for application functionality

# Example: Block SQL injection attempts using ModSecurity WAF rule
SecRule ARGS:location "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in location parameter',\
    log,\
    severity:CRITICAL"