CVE-2025-13579 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the code-projects Library System version 1.0, located in the /return.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'ID' parameter, which is directly used in SQL queries. An attacker can remotely exploit this flaw without authentication or user interaction by crafting malicious input to manipulate the backend database queries. This can lead to unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion, impacting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system's data. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates low complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and partial impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L). The vulnerability is publicly known, with exploit code available, increasing the risk of exploitation. However, no active exploitation has been reported so far. The affected product is a niche library management system, which may limit the scope but still poses a significant risk to organizations relying on it for managing library resources and user data. The lack of an official patch or mitigation guidance necessitates immediate defensive measures by users of this software.

For European organizations, especially educational institutions, public libraries, and research centers using code-projects Library System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to sensitive user and library data. Exploitation could lead to data breaches involving personal information, unauthorized modification of library records, or disruption of library services. This could damage organizational reputation, violate data protection regulations such as GDPR, and potentially result in financial penalties. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases the threat surface, particularly for publicly accessible library portals. While the impact is medium severity, the availability of public exploit code raises the urgency for mitigation. Organizations with limited IT security resources may be more vulnerable to successful attacks. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for further network intrusion if the database contains credentials or other sensitive information.

1. Immediately implement input validation and sanitization on the 'ID' parameter in /return.php to prevent malicious SQL code injection. 2. Refactor the code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements to eliminate direct concatenation of user input into SQL commands. 3. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary, preventing unauthorized data modification or access beyond what the application requires. 4. Monitor web server and database logs for unusual query patterns or repeated access attempts targeting the vulnerable parameter. 5. If an official patch becomes available, prioritize its deployment. 6. Consider deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting this endpoint. 7. Conduct security audits and penetration testing focused on input validation and database interaction in the affected system. 8. Educate staff responsible for maintaining the library system about this vulnerability and the importance of timely updates and monitoring.