CVE-2022-43049 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability identified in the Canteen Management System Project version 1.0. The vulnerability exists specifically in the /youthappam/add-food.php component. SQL injection (CWE-89) vulnerabilities occur when untrusted input is improperly sanitized and directly included in SQL queries, allowing an attacker to manipulate the database queries executed by the application. This can lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete compromise of the backend database. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network with low attack complexity but requires high privileges (authenticated user) and no user interaction. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, meaning an attacker with valid credentials could exfiltrate sensitive data, alter or delete records, or disrupt service availability. No patches or vendor information are currently available, and there are no known exploits in the wild. The vulnerability was published on November 7, 2022, and is tracked under CWE-89, indicating classic SQL injection issues. The lack of vendor or product details suggests this may be a niche or less widely used system, possibly custom or open-source software for managing canteen operations, including food item management via the add-food.php endpoint.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends on the adoption of the affected Canteen Management System. Organizations using this system to manage food services could face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive data such as user credentials, payment information, or operational data. The ability to modify or delete database records could disrupt canteen operations, leading to service outages or incorrect food inventory management. Given the high privileges required, insider threats or compromised accounts pose a particular risk. Additionally, exploitation could serve as a foothold for lateral movement within the network, potentially exposing other critical systems. The absence of patches increases the risk of exploitation if attackers gain access to valid credentials. This vulnerability could also lead to compliance violations under GDPR if personal data is exposed, resulting in legal and financial repercussions for affected European entities.

Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should take immediate steps to mitigate risk. First, conduct an inventory to identify any deployments of the Canteen Management System Project v1.0 or similar software. Restrict access to the /youthappam/add-food.php endpoint to only trusted and necessary users, enforcing the principle of least privilege. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with specific rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting this endpoint. Review and enhance authentication mechanisms to prevent credential compromise, including enforcing strong passwords and multi-factor authentication for users with high privileges. Conduct code reviews and apply input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements to eliminate SQL injection vulnerabilities in the source code. Monitor logs for suspicious database query patterns or anomalous user behavior. If feasible, isolate the canteen management system network segment to limit lateral movement. Finally, engage with the software provider or community to obtain or develop patches and update the system accordingly once available.