CVE-2025-12238 identifies a SQL Injection vulnerability in the code-projects Automated Voting System version 1.0, located in an unspecified function within the /admin/user.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the Username parameter, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code remotely. The attack vector requires no user interaction and no prior authentication, making it accessible to remote unauthenticated attackers. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates low complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L but no authentication needed), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low to medium, as the attacker can potentially read or modify some data but not necessarily take full control or cause system-wide outages. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits are actively used in the wild, though a public exploit has been released. The vulnerability could allow attackers to manipulate voting data, user information, or administrative records, undermining the trustworthiness of the voting system. The lack of secure coding practices such as parameterized queries or prepared statements is likely the root cause. Immediate remediation is critical to prevent exploitation, especially in environments where the voting system is used for official or sensitive polling.

For European organizations, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of voting data, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of election or polling results. This could erode public trust in electoral processes and potentially influence political outcomes. The availability of the voting system could also be affected if attackers execute disruptive SQL commands. Organizations relying on this system for internal or public voting may face reputational damage, legal consequences, and operational disruptions. Given the remote exploitability without authentication, attackers from anywhere could target these systems, increasing the threat landscape. The medium severity suggests that while the impact is significant, it may not lead to full system compromise or widespread outages, but targeted attacks on sensitive data are plausible. The lack of patches increases the urgency for organizations to implement compensating controls. The threat is particularly relevant for governmental bodies, political parties, and private organizations conducting critical votes in Europe.

1. Immediately restrict access to the /admin/user.php interface to trusted IP addresses or VPNs to reduce exposure. 2. Conduct a thorough code review of the affected function to identify and fix the SQL injection flaw by implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements. 3. Sanitize and validate all user inputs rigorously, especially the Username parameter, to prevent injection of malicious SQL code. 4. Monitor logs for suspicious SQL queries or unusual access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 5. If possible, isolate the voting system from public networks or place it behind a web application firewall (WAF) configured to detect and block SQL injection attempts. 6. Develop and deploy patches as soon as they become available from the vendor or consider upgrading to a newer, secure version if released. 7. Educate administrators on secure configuration and the importance of timely updates. 8. Implement regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on injection vulnerabilities. 9. Backup voting data frequently and securely to enable recovery in case of data tampering or loss.