Overview
A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-13561, has been discovered in SourceCodester Company Website CMS version 1.0. This flaw is a SQL injection vulnerability located in the /admin/index.php file. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, and complete system compromise. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable and proof-of-concept exploit code is publicly available, increasing the risk of widespread exploitation.
Technical Details
The SQL injection vulnerability exists due to improper sanitization of user input provided to the Username argument within the /admin/index.php script. An attacker can inject malicious SQL code into this parameter, which is then processed by the database without proper validation. This allows the attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute arbitrary commands on the database server.
Specifically, the vulnerable code likely directly incorporates the Username parameter into an SQL query without using parameterized queries or proper escaping. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious input that alters the query’s intended behavior.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) has assigned a score of 7.3 to CVE-2025-13561, indicating a HIGH severity.
- CVSS Score: 7.3
- Vector: (Analysis not officially available, but based on the description it will be something similar to: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N)
- Explanation: This score reflects the ease of remote exploitation (AV:N), the low attack complexity (AC:L), the lack of required privileges (PR:N), and the fact that no user interaction is necessary (UI:N). The potential impact includes high confidentiality (C:H) compromise and low integrity (I:L) compromise. Availability (A:N) is not directly impacted, however, a successful attack could indirectly lead to service disruption.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability can have severe consequences, including:
- Data Breach: An attacker can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the database, such as user credentials, personal information, and financial records.
- Account Takeover: By manipulating the authentication process, an attacker can gain control of administrator accounts and other privileged user accounts.
- System Compromise: In some cases, an attacker may be able to execute arbitrary commands on the database server, leading to complete system compromise.
- Website Defacement: Attackers could modify website content.
- Denial of Service (DoS): While the CVSS score doesn’t directly indicate a DoS, an attacker could potentially overload the database server, leading to service disruption.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-13561, the following steps are recommended:
- Apply the Patch: The most effective solution is to apply the official patch released by SourceCodester. Check the SourceCodester website for updates and instructions.
- Input Sanitization: Implement proper input sanitization and validation for all user inputs, especially the
Usernameparameter in/admin/index.php. Use parameterized queries (also known as prepared statements) to prevent SQL injection. - Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. Configure the WAF with rules specifically designed to protect against SQL injection attacks.
- Least Privilege: Ensure that the database user account used by the CMS has the minimum necessary privileges. Avoid using an administrator account for routine database operations.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities in the CMS and other web applications.
