CVE-2022-43278 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability identified in Canteen Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the categoriesId parameter within the /php_action/fetchSelectedCategories.php endpoint. SQL injection (CWE-89) occurs when untrusted input is improperly sanitized and directly included in SQL queries, allowing an attacker to manipulate the database query. In this case, the categoriesId parameter is vulnerable, enabling an attacker with high privileges (as indicated by the CVSS vector requiring PR:H) to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This can lead to full compromise of the database confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CVSS score of 7.2 reflects the network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk if exploited, potentially allowing data exfiltration, data manipulation, or denial of service. No patches or vendor information are currently available, which increases the urgency for organizations using this system to apply mitigations or seek vendor updates.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for entities relying on the affected Canteen Management System to manage food services in corporate, educational, or healthcare environments. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data such as user credentials, payment information, or operational data. Data integrity could be compromised, resulting in incorrect orders or financial discrepancies. Availability impacts could disrupt canteen services, affecting employee welfare and operational continuity. Given the high confidentiality and integrity impact, organizations could face regulatory consequences under GDPR if personal data is exposed or altered. Additionally, reputational damage and financial losses could arise from service disruptions or data breaches. The lack of patches increases the risk window, making proactive mitigation critical.

European organizations should immediately conduct a thorough security review of any Canteen Management System deployments, focusing on the /php_action/fetchSelectedCategories.php endpoint. Specific mitigations include: 1) Implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements to eliminate SQL injection risks in the categoriesId parameter. 2) Applying strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied inputs, especially numeric parameters. 3) Restricting database user privileges to the minimum necessary to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 4) Monitoring database logs for suspicious queries or anomalies indicative of injection attempts. 5) Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting this endpoint. 6) If vendor patches become available, prioritize their deployment. 7) Conducting penetration testing focused on injection vulnerabilities to verify remediation effectiveness. 8) Educating developers and administrators on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in future releases.