CVE-2025-11040 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the code-projects Hostel Management System, specifically within the file /justines/admin/mod_users/index.php at the 'view' parameter of the 'ID' argument. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to manipulate the 'ID' parameter to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the backend database query. The injection flaw arises due to insufficient input validation or improper sanitization of user-supplied data before it is incorporated into SQL statements. Exploiting this vulnerability can enable attackers to retrieve, modify, or delete sensitive data stored in the database, potentially compromising user credentials, personal information, or administrative data. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9, categorized as medium severity, reflecting that it requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely with low attack complexity. However, the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited to low levels, indicating partial data exposure or modification rather than full system compromise. No official patches or fixes have been published yet, and while the exploit code is publicly available, there are no confirmed reports of active exploitation in the wild. The vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of the Hostel Management System, which is a niche product used primarily in educational or lodging institutions to manage hostel operations and user data.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions, student housing providers, or small-scale hostel operators using the affected Hostel Management System version 1.0, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data access and manipulation. Attackers exploiting this SQL Injection could extract sensitive personal data of residents or staff, alter user permissions, or disrupt hostel management functions. This could lead to privacy violations under GDPR, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. Although the product's market penetration in Europe is likely limited, institutions relying on this software without timely updates or mitigations may face compliance risks and potential data breaches. The lack of authentication requirement and remote exploitability increases the threat surface, especially if the system is exposed to the internet without adequate network protections. However, the medium severity and limited scope suggest that widespread impact across large European enterprises is unlikely, but smaller organizations with less mature cybersecurity practices could be vulnerable.

Organizations using code-projects Hostel Management System version 1.0 should immediately audit their deployments to identify affected instances. In absence of an official patch, administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization on the 'ID' parameter at the application or web server level, employing web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting this endpoint. Network segmentation should be enforced to restrict external access to the admin interface, ideally limiting it to trusted internal networks or VPN connections. Regular database backups should be maintained to enable recovery in case of data tampering. Monitoring and logging of database queries and web server access logs should be enhanced to detect anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider migrating to updated or alternative hostel management solutions that have addressed this vulnerability. User awareness and incident response plans should be updated to handle potential data breach scenarios stemming from this vulnerability.