CVE-2025-11668 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the code-projects Automated Voting System version 1.0, specifically in the /admin/update_user.php script. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the Password parameter, which allows an authenticated attacker with high privileges to inject arbitrary SQL commands remotely. This injection can manipulate the backend database queries, potentially enabling unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require authentication, limiting exposure to users with some level of access. The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.1 reflects a medium severity, considering the attack vector is network-based with low complexity and no user interaction, but requiring privileges. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited but non-negligible, as it could compromise sensitive user credentials or voting data. No patches or fixes have been publicly linked yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild, but public disclosure increases the risk of future exploitation. Organizations using this voting system should prioritize remediation to prevent potential election manipulation or data breaches.

For European organizations, especially those involved in electoral processes, this vulnerability poses a risk to the integrity and confidentiality of voting data. Exploitation could allow attackers to alter user credentials or voting records, undermining trust in automated voting systems. The impact extends to potential data breaches involving voter information, which may violate GDPR regulations and lead to legal and reputational consequences. Disruption or manipulation of voting results could have significant political and social ramifications. Given the requirement for authenticated access, insider threats or compromised administrative accounts represent the primary risk vectors. The medium severity indicates moderate risk, but the critical nature of voting systems amplifies the potential impact. Organizations relying on this software must assess exposure and implement mitigations promptly to maintain election security and compliance with European data protection laws.

1. Immediately restrict access to the /admin/update_user.php functionality to trusted administrators only and monitor for unusual activity. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all parameters, especially the Password field, using allowlists and rejecting suspicious input patterns. 3. Refactor the code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. 4. Conduct a thorough security audit of the entire voting system to identify and remediate other potential injection points. 5. Apply network segmentation and multi-factor authentication for administrative access to reduce risk from compromised credentials. 6. Monitor logs for signs of SQL injection attempts or anomalous database queries. 7. Engage with the vendor or community to obtain or develop patches and update the software promptly once available. 8. Educate administrators on secure credential management and the risks of privilege misuse. 9. Consider alternative voting solutions with stronger security postures if remediation is not feasible in the short term.