CVE-2025-14223 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in version 1.0 of the Simple Leave Manager software developed by code-projects. The flaw exists in the /request.php file, where the staff_id parameter is improperly sanitized, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without any authentication or user interaction, making it accessible to a wide range of attackers. The injection can lead to unauthorized access to the backend database, enabling attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive employee leave data or potentially escalate privileges within the system. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9 (medium), reflecting the network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, but limited scope and impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No official patches have been released yet, and while no exploits are currently known in the wild, the public disclosure of the vulnerability increases the likelihood of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for secure coding practices such as input validation and use of parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks.

For European organizations, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive employee information, manipulation of leave records, and disruption of HR operations. This could result in compliance violations under GDPR due to exposure of personal data, reputational damage, and potential financial penalties. Organizations relying on Simple Leave Manager for critical HR functions may experience operational downtime or data integrity issues. Attackers could leverage the vulnerability to pivot within the network, potentially accessing other internal systems. The risk is heightened in sectors with strict data privacy requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions. The medium severity indicates a significant but not catastrophic impact, emphasizing the need for timely remediation to prevent escalation.

Since no official patches are currently available, European organizations should immediately implement input validation and sanitization on the staff_id parameter to block malicious SQL payloads. Employing parameterized queries or prepared statements in the codebase will effectively prevent injection attacks. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls (WAFs) should be configured to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting /request.php. Conduct thorough code reviews and security testing of the affected application components. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary to limit the impact of a successful injection. Monitor logs for unusual query patterns or access attempts to the vulnerable endpoint. Plan for rapid deployment of vendor patches once released. Additionally, organizations should review their incident response plans to address potential data breaches stemming from this vulnerability.