CVE-2025-12263 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the Online Event Judging System version 1.0 developed by code-projects. The vulnerability resides in the /edit_judge.php script, specifically in the handling of the judge_id parameter. This parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into SQL queries, enabling an attacker to inject arbitrary SQL code remotely. The attack vector requires no user interaction and no authentication, making it accessible to unauthenticated remote attackers. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L, which is low but not none), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low, indicating partial data disclosure or modification rather than full system compromise. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits are actively observed in the wild, but a public exploit exists, increasing the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability could allow attackers to extract sensitive information from the database, modify judging data, or disrupt event management processes. Given the nature of the system, this could undermine trust in event outcomes or expose personal data of judges and participants. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices such as input validation and use of prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks.

For European organizations using the code-projects Online Event Judging System, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive event data, including judge identities, scoring data, and participant information. Manipulation of judging data could compromise the integrity of event results, damaging organizational reputation and trust. Confidentiality breaches could expose personal data, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, leading to legal and financial consequences. Availability impacts are limited but could include disruption of event management workflows if the database is corrupted or manipulated. The remote, unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases risk, especially for publicly accessible event management portals. Organizations relying on this system for critical or high-profile events in Europe may face reputational damage and operational disruption if exploited. The medium severity rating suggests moderate risk but warrants timely remediation to prevent escalation or chaining with other vulnerabilities.

1. Immediately implement input validation and sanitization on the judge_id parameter to ensure only expected data types and values are accepted. 2. Refactor the /edit_judge.php code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. 3. Monitor network traffic and logs for suspicious activity targeting the /edit_judge.php endpoint, especially attempts to inject SQL payloads. 4. Restrict access to the Online Event Judging System to trusted networks or authenticated users where possible to reduce exposure. 5. If possible, upgrade to a patched version once available or apply vendor-provided fixes promptly. 6. Conduct a security audit of the entire application to identify and remediate other potential injection points. 7. Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices and the risks of SQL injection. 8. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting this system. 9. Regularly back up event data to enable recovery in case of data manipulation or corruption. 10. Review compliance with GDPR and ensure incident response plans are in place for potential data breaches.