CVE-2025-9475: Human Resource Info System Auth Bypass

CVE-2025-9475 Overview

A critical unrestricted file upload vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Human Resource Information System version 1.0. The flaw exists in the file /Admin_Dashboard/process/editemployee_process.php, where manipulation of the employee_file201 argument allows attackers to upload arbitrary files without proper validation. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely, potentially enabling attackers to upload malicious files such as web shells, leading to remote code execution on the affected system.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this unrestricted file upload vulnerability to upload malicious scripts, potentially achieving full server compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive HR data.

Affected Products

• Nelzkie15 Human Resource Information System 1.0
• SourceCodester Human Resource Information System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-08-26 - CVE-2025-9475 published to NVD
• 2025-09-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-9475

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), specifically manifesting as an unrestricted file upload weakness. The vulnerable endpoint /Admin_Dashboard/process/editemployee_process.php fails to implement proper validation controls for the employee_file201 parameter, which is designed to handle employee file uploads (likely related to 201 employee files commonly used in HR systems).

The absence of file type validation, extension whitelisting, and content verification allows attackers to bypass intended restrictions and upload files with arbitrary extensions. When combined with a web-accessible upload directory, this creates a direct path to remote code execution through the upload of PHP web shells or similar malicious scripts.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper access control and missing input validation in the file upload handling mechanism. The application fails to:

1. Validate the MIME type of uploaded files
2. Implement a whitelist of allowed file extensions
3. Verify file content matches expected formats
4. Restrict the upload directory from executing server-side scripts

This combination of missing security controls allows the employee_file201 parameter to accept and store any file type uploaded by remote users.

Attack Vector

The attack can be initiated remotely over the network without requiring authentication. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint, uploading a PHP web shell or other executable script disguised as a legitimate employee document. Once uploaded, the attacker can access the uploaded file through the web server to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process.

The exploitation flow involves sending a multipart form-data POST request to the vulnerable endpoint with a malicious payload in the employee_file201 parameter. The lack of validation means files with dangerous extensions like .php, .phtml, or .php5 are accepted and stored in an accessible location.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-9475

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected PHP files or web shells appearing in upload directories, particularly within /Admin_Dashboard/ subdirectories
• Web server access logs showing POST requests to /Admin_Dashboard/process/editemployee_process.php followed by GET requests to unusual file paths
• New executable files with PHP extensions in directories typically used for document storage
• Outbound network connections originating from the web server process

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system events for creation of executable files (.php, .phtml, .php5) in upload directories
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to inspect multipart form uploads for suspicious file extensions
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on web-accessible directories to detect unauthorized file additions
• Analyze HTTP POST requests to editemployee_process.php for anomalous file upload patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the /Admin_Dashboard/process/ directory and review logs for unusual activity patterns
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on requests containing common web shell signatures
• Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor process execution spawned from web server contexts
• Regularly audit upload directories for files that don't match expected document formats

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-9475

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /Admin_Dashboard/process/editemployee_process.php endpoint using IP whitelisting or authentication requirements
• Disable script execution in upload directories through web server configuration
• Remove or quarantine any suspicious files found in upload directories
• Consider taking the application offline until patches or workarounds can be properly implemented

Patch Information

As of the last update on 2025-09-02, no official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability. Organizations using SourceCodester Human Resource Information System 1.0 should monitor SourceCodester for security updates and apply patches immediately upon availability. Additional technical details can be found in the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB #321344.

Workarounds

• Implement server-side file extension validation to only allow safe document types (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .jpg, .png)
• Configure the web server to disable PHP execution in upload directories using .htaccess or equivalent configuration
• Add MIME type validation to verify uploaded file content matches expected formats
• Implement file renaming on upload to remove executable extensions

# Apache configuration to disable PHP execution in upload directories
# Add to .htaccess in the upload directory
<FilesMatch "\.php$">
    SetHandler none
    SetHandler default-handler
    Options -ExecCGI
    RemoveHandler .php
</FilesMatch>

# Alternative: Deny all PHP execution
<Files *.php>
    deny from all
</Files>