Overview
CVE-2025-13122 details a significant SQL injection vulnerability found in SourceCodester’s Patients Waiting Area Queue Management System version 1.0. This flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands by manipulating the appointmentID parameter in the getPatientAppointment function of the /php/api_patient_checkin.php file. With the exploit now publicly available, systems running this vulnerable software are at high risk of compromise.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the getPatientAppointment function. Specifically, the appointmentID parameter, which is used to retrieve appointment information from the database, is not properly sanitized. An attacker can inject malicious SQL code into this parameter, allowing them to bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even potentially gain control of the underlying server.
The vulnerable file is: /php/api_patient_checkin.php
The vulnerable function is: getPatientAppointment
The vulnerable parameter is: appointmentID
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns a score of 7.3 (HIGH) to CVE-2025-13122. This score reflects the following factors:
- Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) – The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network.
- Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – Exploitation requires minimal specialized access conditions.
- Privileges Required: None (PR:N) – No privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability.
- User Interaction: None (UI:N) – No user interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability.
- Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority.
- Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H) – There is total loss of confidentiality, resulting in all resources within the impacted component being divulged to the attacker.
- Integrity Impact: High (I:H) – There is total loss of integrity, so the attacker can modify any files or information on the target system.
- Availability Impact: High (A:H) – There is total loss of availability, resulting in the attacker can prevent legitimate users from accessing the resource.
This high score emphasizes the severity of the risk associated with this vulnerability.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-13122 can have severe consequences, including:
- Data Breach: Sensitive patient data, including personal information, medical records, and appointment details, could be exposed.
- System Compromise: Attackers could gain unauthorized access to the server hosting the application, potentially leading to further attacks on the network.
- Data Manipulation: Attackers could modify or delete patient records, leading to disruptions in healthcare services and potential harm to patients.
- Denial of Service: Attackers could disrupt the availability of the queue management system, preventing patients from scheduling or managing appointments.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-13122, the following steps are recommended:
- Apply the Patch: Immediately apply the official patch released by SourceCodester, if available. Check the SourceCodester website for updates.
- Input Sanitization: Implement robust input validation and sanitization techniques for all user-supplied data, especially the
appointmentIDparameter. Use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. - Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts.
- Least Privilege Principle: Ensure that the database user account used by the application has only the necessary privileges required for its operation.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
- Monitor System Logs: Actively monitor system logs for suspicious activity that could indicate an attempted exploitation.
