CVE-2023-7096 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the Faculty Management System version 1.0 developed by code-projects. The vulnerability resides in an unspecified function within the /admin/php/crud.php file, where the parameters 'fieldname' and 'tablename' are not properly sanitized before being used in SQL queries. This improper input validation allows an attacker to craft malicious input that alters the intended SQL command, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or modification. The attack vector is remote network access, and no user interaction is required, but the attacker must have high privileges (likely administrative access) to exploit the flaw. The CVSS 4.0 score is 5.1 (medium severity), reflecting the moderate impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low scope and no requirement for user interaction. While no official patches or fixes have been released, the vulnerability is publicly known, and proof-of-concept exploits have been published, increasing the risk of exploitation. The Faculty Management System is typically used by educational institutions to manage faculty data, making the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive academic and personnel information critical. The lack of proper input sanitization in administrative CRUD operations exposes the system to SQL injection attacks that could lead to data leakage, unauthorized data modification, or denial of service through database corruption or crashes.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions using the affected Faculty Management System version 1.0, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to sensitive faculty and academic data. Exploitation could lead to data breaches involving personal information, academic records, and administrative details, undermining privacy compliance obligations such as GDPR. Integrity of data could be compromised, affecting the accuracy of faculty records and potentially disrupting academic operations. Availability could also be impacted if attackers execute commands that degrade database performance or cause crashes. Although exploitation requires high privileges, insider threats or compromised administrative credentials could facilitate attacks. The public availability of exploit code increases the likelihood of opportunistic attacks. Given the critical role of educational data and the regulatory environment in Europe, the impact extends beyond technical damage to potential legal and reputational consequences.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately restrict access to the /admin/php/crud.php interface to trusted administrative users only, preferably via VPN or secure network segments. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all parameters, especially 'fieldname' and 'tablename', using parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. Conduct a thorough code review of the Faculty Management System to identify and remediate similar injection points. Monitor database logs and application logs for unusual or suspicious queries indicative of injection attempts. If possible, upgrade to a newer, patched version of the Faculty Management System once available or consider alternative solutions with better security track records. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with SQL injection detection rules as an interim protective measure. Educate administrative users on credential security to prevent privilege escalation. Finally, maintain regular backups of critical data to enable recovery in case of data corruption or loss.