CVE-2025-13286 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the itsourcecode Online Voting System version 1.0, specifically within the /ajax.php?action=save_user endpoint. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'ID' parameter, which allows an attacker to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the backend database query. This injection flaw can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction, making it accessible to a wide range of attackers. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting the vulnerability's moderate impact and ease of exploitation. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L), indicating partial data exposure or modification rather than full system compromise. The vulnerability does not require special conditions such as scope change or security requirements. Although no patches or fixes have been published yet, the exploit code has been made publicly available, increasing the likelihood of exploitation. The vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity of voting data, potentially enabling attackers to alter votes, extract sensitive voter information, or disrupt the voting process. The lack of authentication requirements and remote exploitability make this a critical concern for organizations relying on this software for electoral or decision-making processes. The absence of mitigation details or vendor patches necessitates immediate defensive measures by users of the affected version.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-13286 is significant due to the critical role of online voting systems in democratic processes. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to voter data, manipulation of vote counts, or denial of service conditions that disrupt elections or decision-making events. This undermines the confidentiality of voter identities and choices, the integrity of election results, and the availability of the voting platform during critical periods. Given the public trust placed in electoral systems, any compromise could result in reputational damage, legal consequences, and erosion of democratic legitimacy. Additionally, attackers could leverage the vulnerability to pivot into broader network environments if the voting system is connected to other organizational infrastructure. The medium severity score reflects partial but impactful compromise potential, emphasizing the need for rapid response. European countries with advanced e-governance and digital voting initiatives are particularly vulnerable, as exploitation could affect national or regional elections, referenda, or corporate governance votes.

To mitigate CVE-2025-13286 effectively, organizations should immediately implement rigorous input validation and sanitization on all parameters, especially the 'ID' parameter in /ajax.php?action=save_user. Employing parameterized queries or prepared statements is critical to prevent SQL injection. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary, avoiding elevated privileges that could exacerbate damage if exploited. Conduct thorough code reviews and security testing focusing on injection flaws. Monitor network traffic and application logs for suspicious activities targeting the vulnerable endpoint. If possible, isolate the voting system from other critical infrastructure to limit lateral movement. Engage with the vendor or community to obtain patches or updates as soon as they become available. Additionally, consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting this endpoint. For organizations running older or unsupported versions, plan for an upgrade or migration to a more secure platform. Finally, establish incident response plans tailored to election security to quickly address any exploitation attempts.