CVE-2025-11516 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the code-projects Online Complaint Site version 1.0, specifically within the /cms/users/complaint-details.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'cid' parameter, which is used in SQL queries without adequate validation or parameterization. This allows a remote attacker to inject malicious SQL code by manipulating the 'cid' argument, potentially leading to unauthorized access to the backend database. The attack vector is network accessible (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), no authentication (AT:N), and no user interaction (UI:N), making exploitation relatively straightforward. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, though with limited scope and impact (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L). The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.3 reflects a medium severity level. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the public availability of exploit code increases the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability could allow attackers to extract sensitive complaint data, modify records, or disrupt the complaint management service. The lack of patches or official fixes necessitates immediate mitigation efforts by affected organizations. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, especially input validation and the use of prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks.

For European organizations, the exploitation of CVE-2025-11516 could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive complaint data, including personal information, which may violate GDPR and other privacy regulations. Data integrity could be compromised by unauthorized modification or deletion of complaint records, undermining trust in complaint handling processes. Availability impacts could arise if attackers execute destructive SQL commands or cause database errors, leading to service outages. Organizations relying on the code-projects Online Complaint Site for customer or citizen complaint management could face reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and operational disruptions. The medium severity score indicates a moderate but tangible risk, especially for entities handling sensitive or regulated data. The public availability of exploit code increases the likelihood of opportunistic attacks, particularly targeting organizations with unpatched or poorly secured deployments. European sectors such as public administration, consumer protection agencies, and private companies using this software are at risk. The impact is exacerbated if the database contains personally identifiable information (PII) or other confidential data.

1. Immediately implement input validation and sanitization on the 'cid' parameter to ensure only expected data types and formats are accepted. 2. Refactor the vulnerable code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. 3. Restrict database user privileges to the minimum necessary, avoiding use of highly privileged accounts for web application database connections. 4. Monitor web application logs for unusual or suspicious query patterns indicative of SQL injection attempts. 5. If possible, isolate the complaint management system behind a web application firewall (WAF) configured to detect and block SQL injection payloads. 6. Conduct a thorough security review of the entire application to identify and remediate other potential injection points. 7. Develop and apply patches or updates from the vendor once available; if no official patch exists, consider temporary mitigations such as disabling the vulnerable functionality or restricting access to trusted IPs. 8. Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices and the importance of input validation and least privilege principles. 9. Regularly back up complaint data and test restoration procedures to mitigate impact of potential data corruption or loss.