CVE-2025-4698 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 2.0 of the PHPGurukul Directory Management System, specifically within the /admin/forget-password.php file. The vulnerability arises due to improper sanitization or validation of the 'email' parameter, which is used in a SQL query. An attacker can remotely exploit this flaw by manipulating the 'email' argument to inject malicious SQL code. This can lead to unauthorized access to the backend database, allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive data. Since the vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, it can be exploited by any remote attacker with network access to the affected system. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level, with attack vector as network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but public disclosure of the vulnerability increases the risk of exploitation. The lack of available patches or mitigations at the time of publication further elevates the urgency for affected organizations to implement protective measures. This vulnerability is critical in nature due to its potential to compromise sensitive directory management data and disrupt administrative functions.

For European organizations using PHPGurukul Directory Management System 2.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of directory-related data, including user credentials and administrative information. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data tampering, or denial of service in administrative workflows, potentially impacting business operations and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. Organizations in sectors with high reliance on directory services for identity and access management—such as government, finance, healthcare, and education—may face increased operational risk and reputational damage. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases the attack surface, especially for externally accessible administrative interfaces. Additionally, the absence of known exploits currently limits immediate widespread impact but also means organizations must proactively address the vulnerability to prevent future attacks.

1. Immediate review and restriction of access to the /admin/forget-password.php endpoint, ideally limiting it to trusted IP addresses or internal networks via firewall rules or network segmentation. 2. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the 'email' parameter. 3. Conduct a thorough code audit of the affected application to identify and remediate all instances of unsanitized input, applying parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. 4. If possible, upgrade to a patched version of PHPGurukul Directory Management System once available; if no patch exists, consider temporary mitigation by disabling the vulnerable functionality or replacing it with a secure alternative. 5. Monitor logs for suspicious activity related to the forget-password functionality, including unusual query patterns or repeated failed attempts. 6. Educate system administrators and developers on secure coding practices and the importance of input validation. 7. Regularly back up critical data and verify the integrity of backups to enable recovery in case of data compromise.