CVE-2025-12294 is a SQL injection vulnerability identified in SourceCodester Point of Sales version 1.0, specifically within the /delete_category.php script. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'ID' parameter, which is used directly in SQL queries without adequate validation or parameterization. An attacker with high privileges can remotely manipulate this parameter to inject arbitrary SQL commands, potentially allowing unauthorized access to or modification of the database contents. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without user interaction, but it requires the attacker to have high privileges, which may correspond to authenticated administrative access or elevated user rights within the POS system. The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.1 reflects a medium severity, indicating limited but notable impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While no active exploitation has been reported, the public release of exploit code increases the likelihood of attacks. The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data tampering, or disruption of POS operations, affecting business continuity and data security. The absence of an official patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate mitigation through secure coding practices, such as input validation and use of prepared statements, or restricting access to the vulnerable endpoint.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-12294 can be significant, especially for retail businesses relying on SourceCodester Point of Sales version 1.0. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive sales and inventory data, potentially resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to data breaches. Data integrity could be compromised by unauthorized modification or deletion of categories, disrupting sales operations and inventory management. Availability may also be affected if attackers leverage the vulnerability to cause denial of service or corrupt the database. The requirement for high privileges limits the risk to some extent, but insider threats or compromised credentials could facilitate exploitation. Given the public availability of exploit code, the risk of opportunistic attacks is elevated. European organizations with limited cybersecurity maturity or insufficient access controls are particularly vulnerable. The impact extends beyond direct financial loss to include potential legal and compliance ramifications under European data protection laws.

To mitigate CVE-2025-12294, organizations should first verify if they are running SourceCodester Point of Sales version 1.0 and prioritize remediation accordingly. Since no official patch is currently available, immediate steps include implementing strict input validation and sanitization on the 'ID' parameter in /delete_category.php to prevent SQL injection. Refactoring the code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements is critical to eliminate injection vectors. Access to the vulnerable endpoint should be restricted to trusted administrators only, employing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure. Monitoring and logging access to the /delete_category.php script can help detect suspicious activity. Organizations should enforce strong authentication and privilege management to reduce the risk posed by compromised credentials. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities are recommended. Finally, organizations should stay alert for official patches or updates from SourceCodester and apply them promptly once available.