CVE-2025-11114 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in CodeAstro Online Leave Application version 1.0, specifically within the /leaveAplicationForm.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the absence[] parameter, which is susceptible to malicious input manipulation. An attacker can remotely exploit this flaw without requiring authentication or user interaction, by crafting specially formed requests that inject SQL commands into the backend database query. This injection can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application’s data. The vulnerability is rated medium severity with a CVSS 4.0 score of 5.3, reflecting the ease of remote exploitation but limited scope and impact compared to more critical vulnerabilities. No known active exploitation has been reported yet, but the availability of a public exploit increases the risk. The vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of the product, indicating that later versions may have addressed the issue or that patching is required. The lack of patches or vendor advisories necessitates immediate attention from users of this software. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations relying on this application for managing employee leave, as exploitation could expose sensitive personnel data or disrupt HR operations.

For European organizations, exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive employee information, including leave records and potentially other linked HR data. This breach of confidentiality could violate GDPR requirements, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Integrity of data could also be compromised, allowing attackers to alter leave records or other stored information, which may disrupt payroll, compliance, and operational workflows. Availability impacts could arise if attackers execute destructive SQL commands, causing application downtime or data loss. Organizations in sectors with stringent data protection obligations, such as government agencies, healthcare, and finance, are particularly at risk. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the vulnerability increases the attack surface, making it easier for threat actors to exploit without insider access. Although no active exploitation is currently reported, the public availability of an exploit increases the likelihood of attacks, especially targeting organizations that delay patching or mitigation. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but tangible risk that should not be ignored.

European organizations using CodeAstro Online Leave Application 1.0 should immediately conduct a security review of the /leaveAplicationForm.php endpoint, focusing on the absence[] parameter. Specific mitigation steps include: 1) Implementing strict input validation and sanitization to reject or neutralize malicious SQL payloads; 2) Refactoring database queries to use parameterized statements or prepared queries to prevent injection; 3) Applying any available vendor patches or updates as soon as they are released; 4) If patches are unavailable, consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable parameter; 5) Conducting thorough logging and monitoring of application access to detect anomalous query patterns indicative of exploitation attempts; 6) Restricting access to the leave application system to trusted networks or VPNs where feasible; 7) Educating IT and security teams about the vulnerability and ensuring incident response plans include this threat. Additionally, organizations should review their data backup and recovery procedures to mitigate potential data loss from exploitation.