CVE-2025-12294 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Point of Sales version 1.0, located in the /delete_category.php script. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'ID' parameter, which an attacker with authenticated access can manipulate to inject malicious SQL commands. This flaw allows the attacker to execute arbitrary SQL queries on the backend database, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The attack vector is remote network access, and no user interaction is required once the attacker has the necessary privileges. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates that the attack requires high privileges (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), and has low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L), resulting in an overall medium severity score of 5.1. Although no known exploits are currently active in the wild, the public release of exploit code increases the likelihood of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of the product, and no official patches have been linked yet. The lack of secure coding practices around input validation in this critical function exposes the POS system to database compromise risks, which can cascade into broader operational and data security issues.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive sales and inventory data managed by the SourceCodester POS system. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of customer information, manipulation of sales records, or disruption of retail operations. Retailers and businesses relying on this POS software may face financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The medium severity indicates that while the impact is not catastrophic, it is significant enough to warrant prompt attention, especially in sectors with high transaction volumes or sensitive data. The requirement for high privileges limits the attack surface to insiders or compromised accounts, but the public availability of exploit code increases risk from opportunistic attackers. Disruption of POS systems can also affect supply chain and customer service continuity, which is critical in competitive European markets.

Organizations should immediately audit and restrict access to the SourceCodester POS system, ensuring that only trusted, authenticated users have high-level privileges. Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries in the /delete_category.php script to prevent SQL injection. If possible, upgrade to a patched version once available or apply custom patches to sanitize the 'ID' parameter. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting SQL injection patterns specific to this vulnerability. Monitor logs for unusual database queries or failed injection attempts. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on POS systems. Additionally, enforce network segmentation to isolate POS systems from broader corporate networks, minimizing lateral movement in case of compromise. Educate staff on the risks of credential compromise and enforce strong authentication mechanisms. Finally, prepare incident response plans to quickly address any exploitation attempts.