CVE-2025-49484 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability affecting the JS Jobs component for Joomla, versions 1.0.0 through 1.4.1. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89), specifically through the 'cvid' parameter in the employee application feature of the plugin. The flaw allows low-privilege users to inject arbitrary SQL commands without requiring authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N). Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to significant confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, including unauthorized data access, data modification, or deletion within the underlying database. The vulnerability is network exploitable with low attack complexity and does not require privileges beyond low-level user access, making it a critical risk for websites using this component. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the high CVSS score of 8.7 reflects the potential severity. The absence of available patches or fixes at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation. Joomla is a widely used content management system (CMS), and the JS Jobs component is a popular plugin for job listing and application management, making this vulnerability relevant for organizations relying on Joomla-based recruitment or HR portals.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those using Joomla with the JS Jobs plugin to manage job applications or employee data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal data, including applicant information, which may include personally identifiable information (PII) protected under GDPR. Data integrity could be compromised, leading to manipulation or deletion of job postings or application records, disrupting recruitment processes. Availability impacts could result from database corruption or denial of service caused by malicious SQL commands. The breach of confidentiality and integrity could also lead to reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR, and operational disruptions. Given the widespread use of Joomla in Europe and the critical nature of recruitment data, this vulnerability could affect public sector organizations, educational institutions, and private enterprises alike, particularly those with online job portals.

Immediate mitigation steps include disabling or restricting access to the employee application feature of the JS Jobs component until a patch is available. Organizations should implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the 'cvid' parameter. Input validation and parameterized queries should be enforced at the application level once updates are available. Monitoring database logs for unusual queries and access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, organizations should review user privileges to ensure that low-privilege accounts have minimal database access rights. Regular backups of the database should be maintained to enable recovery in case of data corruption. It is also advisable to subscribe to Joomla security advisories for timely updates and patches. For longer-term security, consider migrating to updated versions of the JS Jobs component or alternative plugins that have addressed this vulnerability.