CVE-2025-12256 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the Online Event Judging System version 1.0 developed by code-projects. The vulnerability resides in the /edit_contestant.php script, where the contestant_id parameter is improperly sanitized, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code. This injection flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate backend database queries without requiring authentication or user interaction, potentially leading to unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.3, categorized as medium severity, reflecting moderate impact and ease of exploitation. Although no active exploits have been reported in the wild, public exploit code availability increases the likelihood of future attacks. The affected system is typically used for managing and judging participants in events, making it a critical component for organizations relying on it for fair and secure event operations. The lack of input validation and use of dynamic SQL queries without parameterization are the root causes. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive contestant data, integrity by allowing data tampering, and availability if the database is disrupted. The vulnerability does not require privileges or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. No official patches have been released yet, necessitating immediate mitigation steps by users.

For European organizations, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive participant data, including personal and event-related information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Data integrity could be compromised, affecting the fairness and credibility of event results, which is critical for organizations relying on these systems for competitions or evaluations. Availability impacts could disrupt event operations, causing reputational damage and financial losses. Organizations involved in large-scale events, academic competitions, or corporate evaluations using this software are particularly at risk. The public availability of exploit code increases the likelihood of opportunistic attacks, especially targeting organizations with weak perimeter defenses. Additionally, data breaches resulting from this vulnerability could lead to regulatory fines and loss of stakeholder trust. The medium severity rating suggests moderate but tangible risks that warrant prompt attention to prevent escalation.

1. Immediately implement input validation and sanitization on the contestant_id parameter to reject or properly handle unexpected input. 2. Refactor the /edit_contestant.php code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements to eliminate SQL injection vectors. 3. Restrict access to the /edit_contestant.php endpoint using network-level controls such as firewalls or VPNs to limit exposure. 4. Monitor logs for suspicious activities targeting the contestant_id parameter or unusual database query patterns. 5. Conduct a comprehensive security review of the entire application to identify and remediate similar injection flaws. 6. If patching is not immediately possible, deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting this parameter. 7. Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices to prevent recurrence. 8. Regularly back up databases and ensure incident response plans are in place to quickly recover from potential attacks. 9. Engage with the vendor or community to obtain or develop official patches or updates.