CVE-2025-50486 is a security vulnerability identified in the PHPGurukul Car Rental Project version 3.0, specifically within the /carrental/update-password.php component. The flaw stems from improper session invalidation, which means that when a user updates their password, the application fails to correctly terminate or refresh the user's existing session tokens. This oversight allows an attacker who has obtained or intercepted a valid session token to continue using that session despite the password change, effectively enabling session hijacking. Session hijacking is a critical security issue where an attacker impersonates a legitimate user by taking over their active session, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive user data and functionalities. The vulnerability does not specify affected versions beyond version 3.0, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. No known exploits are reported in the wild, but the nature of the vulnerability suggests that it could be exploited through network interception or cross-site scripting (XSS) if combined with other weaknesses. The absence of proper session invalidation after password updates undermines the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions, posing a significant risk to user accounts and the overall security posture of the affected application.

For European organizations using the PHPGurukul Car Rental Project v3.0 or similar web applications with this vulnerability, the impact could be substantial. Attackers exploiting this flaw can hijack user sessions, potentially accessing personal data, booking information, payment details, and administrative functions. This could lead to unauthorized transactions, data breaches, and reputational damage. Given the GDPR regulations in Europe, any compromise of personal data could result in severe legal and financial penalties. Additionally, session hijacking can facilitate lateral movement within an organization's network if the application is integrated with internal systems. The vulnerability undermines user trust and could disrupt business operations, especially for companies relying on this software for customer-facing services. Although no active exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's presence increases the attack surface and risk profile for European entities, particularly those in the travel, hospitality, and car rental sectors.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement immediate session invalidation upon password changes. This includes destroying all active session tokens associated with the user and forcing re-authentication. Developers should ensure that the /carrental/update-password.php script properly terminates existing sessions and issues new session identifiers post-password update. Employing secure session management practices such as regenerating session IDs after authentication events, setting appropriate session timeouts, and using secure, HttpOnly, and SameSite cookie flags is essential. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can reduce the risk of session hijacking. Regular code reviews and security testing focused on session management should be conducted. Organizations should monitor for unusual session activity and consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block session hijacking attempts. If possible, upgrading to a patched version of the software or applying vendor-provided fixes should be prioritized once available.