CVE-2025-23176 is a medium-severity SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) identified in Tecnick's TCExam software, specifically affecting version 16.3.2. TCExam is an open-source, web-based computer-based testing application widely used for managing exams and assessments. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code through unsanitized input fields. This flaw can enable unauthorized manipulation of the underlying database, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or even deletion. Since TCExam handles sensitive examination data, including user credentials, exam content, and results, exploitation could compromise confidentiality and integrity of critical information. The vulnerability does not currently have any known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been released as of the publication date (April 22, 2025). The lack of authentication requirements or user interaction details is unspecified, but typically, SQL injection vulnerabilities can be exploited remotely by sending crafted requests to vulnerable input fields. The vulnerability was reserved in January 2025 and enriched by CISA, indicating recognition by cybersecurity authorities. Given the nature of SQL injection, attackers could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt service availability by corrupting database contents or causing application crashes.

For European organizations using TCExam 16.3.2, this vulnerability poses significant risks to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of examination data. Educational institutions, certification bodies, and training organizations that rely on TCExam to administer exams could face data breaches exposing personal information of students and staff, exam questions, and results. Integrity of exam data could be compromised, undermining trust in certification processes. Availability impacts could arise if attackers corrupt or delete database records, causing service outages or data loss. Given the sensitive nature of academic and certification data, regulatory compliance issues (e.g., GDPR) may also arise from data breaches. The medium severity rating suggests moderate ease of exploitation and impact, but the potential for significant reputational damage and operational disruption is notable. Since no known exploits exist yet, proactive mitigation is critical to prevent future attacks. Organizations in Europe with a digital examination infrastructure using TCExam are particularly at risk, especially those with limited cybersecurity resources or delayed patch management processes.

1. Immediate mitigation should include conducting a thorough audit of all TCExam installations to identify affected versions (16.3.2). 2. Since no official patch is available, organizations should implement input validation and sanitization at the web application firewall (WAF) or reverse proxy level to block malicious SQL payloads targeting TCExam endpoints. 3. Employ parameterized queries or prepared statements if custom modifications to TCExam are feasible, to prevent SQL injection at the source code level. 4. Restrict database user privileges associated with TCExam to the minimum necessary, limiting the potential damage from exploitation. 5. Monitor application logs and database queries for unusual activity indicative of SQL injection attempts. 6. Plan for an urgent update once the vendor releases a patch or security update. 7. Educate administrators and developers about secure coding practices and the risks of SQL injection. 8. Consider isolating TCExam servers within segmented network zones to reduce exposure. 9. Regularly back up exam data and verify backup integrity to enable recovery in case of data corruption or loss. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on compensating controls and operational readiness in the absence of an immediate patch.