CVE-2025-12292 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Point of Sales version 1.0, located in the /index.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'Username' parameter, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code remotely without authentication or user interaction. This injection can manipulate backend database queries, potentially exposing sensitive data, modifying records, or enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation or data destruction. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity, as no special privileges or user interaction are required. Although no active exploits have been reported in the wild, the public disclosure increases the likelihood of exploitation attempts. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability individually but combined can lead to significant security breaches. The absence of official patches necessitates immediate mitigation through secure coding practices and network defenses. This vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of the software, so organizations running this specific version are at risk.

For European organizations, the exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer and transaction data, undermining confidentiality. Integrity of sales records and financial data could be compromised, potentially causing financial discrepancies and loss of trust. Availability might be affected if attackers manipulate or delete critical database entries, disrupting retail operations. Given the retail sector's importance in Europe, such disruptions could have cascading economic effects. Additionally, data breaches could trigger regulatory penalties under GDPR due to exposure of personal data. The risk is heightened for organizations that have not updated or secured their SourceCodester Point of Sales installations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain footholds for further network intrusion or data exfiltration, impacting business continuity and reputation.

Organizations should immediately audit their SourceCodester Point of Sales installations to identify version 1.0 deployments. Since no official patches are currently available, implement input validation and sanitization on the 'Username' parameter at the web application firewall (WAF) or reverse proxy level to block malicious SQL payloads. Employ parameterized queries or prepared statements in the application code to prevent injection if source code access is possible. Conduct thorough database activity monitoring to detect anomalous queries indicative of exploitation attempts. Restrict network access to the POS system, limiting exposure to trusted internal networks only. Regularly back up databases and test restoration procedures to mitigate data loss risks. Engage with the vendor or community for updates or patches and plan for an upgrade to a secure version once available. Finally, educate staff on recognizing signs of compromise and establish incident response protocols tailored to POS system breaches.