CVE-2025-7928: Church Donation System SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-7928 Overview

A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Church Donation System version 1.0. This vulnerability affects the file /members/edit_user.php where improper handling of the firstname parameter allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete data from the underlying database. Other parameters in the affected file may also be vulnerable to similar attacks.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to compromise database confidentiality, integrity, and availability without requiring authentication.

Affected Products

• Carmelo Church Donation System 1.0
• code-projects Church Donation System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-21 - CVE-2025-7928 published to NVD
• 2025-07-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7928

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) exists in the Church Donation System's user management functionality. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, creating a classic injection point that attackers can leverage to manipulate database operations.

The vulnerable endpoint /members/edit_user.php accepts the firstname parameter without adequate input validation or parameterized query implementation. When malicious SQL syntax is injected through this parameter, it gets executed directly against the backend database, bypassing intended application logic.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and the use of unsanitized user input in SQL query construction. The application concatenates user-supplied data directly into SQL statements rather than using prepared statements or parameterized queries. This is a fundamental secure coding failure that allows attackers to break out of the intended data context and inject arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack can be initiated remotely over the network without any authentication requirements. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests to the /members/edit_user.php endpoint, manipulating the firstname parameter to include SQL injection payloads. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of exploitation in the wild.

Successful exploitation could allow attackers to:

• Extract sensitive data from the database including user credentials and donation records
• Modify or delete database records
• Potentially escalate privileges within the application
• In some configurations, execute operating system commands through database functions

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7928

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed HTTP requests targeting /members/edit_user.php with SQL syntax in the firstname parameter
• Database error messages in application logs indicating SQL syntax errors or unexpected query behavior
• Unexpected database queries containing UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, comment sequences (--), or other SQL injection patterns
• Access logs showing repeated requests to the edit_user.php endpoint with varying parameter values

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests
• Monitor application and database logs for SQL error messages and anomalous query patterns
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack vectors
• Conduct regular vulnerability scanning of web applications to identify injection points

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the /members/edit_user.php endpoint and all user input parameters
• Set up alerts for database query failures or unusual query execution times
• Monitor for bulk data extraction patterns that may indicate successful exploitation
• Track authentication events and privilege changes for signs of post-exploitation activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7928

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /members/edit_user.php endpoint using network-level controls or authentication requirements
• Implement Web Application Firewall rules to filter SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable parameters
• Consider taking the affected application offline until a patch is available or mitigations are in place
• Review database access logs for evidence of prior exploitation

Patch Information

No official vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. Organizations using Church Donation System 1.0 should monitor the Code Projects Resource for updates and security advisories. Additional vulnerability details are available via the GitHub Issue Report and the VulDB #317057 entry.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation to reject SQL metacharacters and escape special characters in user input
• Replace dynamic SQL queries with prepared statements or parameterized queries in the affected code
• Apply the principle of least privilege to database accounts used by the application
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF to filter malicious requests before they reach the application

# Example WAF rule configuration to block SQL injection attempts
# Add to ModSecurity or similar WAF configuration
SecRule ARGS:firstname "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in firstname parameter',\
    severity:CRITICAL"