CVE-2025-14222 is an SQL injection vulnerability identified in the Employee Profile Management System version 1.0 developed by code-projects. The vulnerability resides in the /print_personnel_report.php script, specifically in the handling of the per_id parameter. Due to insufficient input validation or sanitization, an attacker can manipulate this parameter to inject arbitrary SQL commands. This flaw allows remote exploitation without the need for user interaction, but requires low-level privileges, implying that an attacker must be authenticated with limited rights. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the database by potentially enabling unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion of employee records. The CVSS v4.0 score is 5.3 (medium severity), reflecting the moderate impact and ease of exploitation. No patches or official fixes have been published yet, and while no exploits are confirmed in the wild, proof-of-concept code is available, increasing the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability does not affect system availability directly but poses a significant risk to sensitive personnel data, which could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance, and reputational damage. The lack of scope change indicates the vulnerability is confined to the affected component without broader system compromise. The vulnerability is categorized under SQL injection, a common and critical web application security issue, emphasizing the need for secure coding practices such as parameterized queries and rigorous input validation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of employee data managed by the affected system. Unauthorized access or manipulation of personnel records can lead to privacy breaches, identity theft, and insider threat exploitation. Given the strict data protection regulations in Europe, such as GDPR, a breach could result in substantial legal penalties and loss of customer trust. Organizations in sectors with sensitive employee information, including government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, are particularly vulnerable. The medium severity score suggests that while the vulnerability is not immediately catastrophic, it can be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks or data exfiltration. The requirement for low-level authentication reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with weak internal access controls. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate widespread impact, but the availability of proof-of-concept code increases the likelihood of future exploitation attempts. European entities relying on this software should assess their exposure and implement mitigations promptly to avoid potential data breaches and compliance violations.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the /print_personnel_report.php endpoint to trusted users only, using network segmentation and access control lists. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for the per_id parameter, ensuring only expected numeric or alphanumeric values are accepted. 3. Refactor the vulnerable code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. 4. Monitor logs for unusual query patterns or repeated access attempts to the vulnerable endpoint, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 5. Conduct a comprehensive code review of the entire application to identify and remediate similar injection flaws. 6. If possible, isolate the affected system from the internet or untrusted networks until a patch or update is available. 7. Educate internal users about the risks of credential compromise, as low-level authentication is required for exploitation. 8. Engage with the vendor or development team to obtain or request an official patch or update addressing this vulnerability. 9. Prepare an incident response plan specific to potential data breaches involving employee information. 10. Regularly update and audit security controls to ensure ongoing protection against injection attacks.