CVE-2025-5210 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.3 of the PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System, specifically within the /loginerms.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'Email' parameter, which is directly used in SQL queries. An attacker can remotely manipulate this parameter to inject malicious SQL code, potentially allowing unauthorized access to the backend database. This can lead to unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion of employee records stored within the system. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction to exploit, making it accessible to remote attackers without prior access. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level, with network attack vector, low complexity, and no privileges or user interaction required. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited but present, as the vulnerability allows partial compromise of data. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, but the vulnerability details have been disclosed publicly, increasing the risk of exploitation. No official patches or mitigation links have been provided yet by the vendor, which increases the urgency for organizations to apply compensating controls or monitor for suspicious activity.

For European organizations using PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive employee data. Unauthorized access to employee records could lead to data breaches involving personal identifiable information (PII), potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The ability to manipulate database queries remotely without authentication increases the risk of large-scale data exposure or tampering. Additionally, compromised employee data could be leveraged for further attacks such as social engineering or insider threats. The lack of a patch means organizations must rely on detection and mitigation strategies to prevent exploitation. The reputational damage and regulatory penalties resulting from a breach could be substantial. Although availability impact is limited, attackers could potentially disrupt service by injecting destructive SQL commands. Overall, the vulnerability threatens data security and compliance posture of affected European entities.

1. Immediate mitigation should include implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious SQL injection payloads targeting the 'Email' parameter in /loginerms.php. 2. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied inputs, especially the 'Email' field, using parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection. 3. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary to limit the impact of any successful injection. 4. Monitor application logs and database access patterns for unusual queries or failed login attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. If possible, isolate the Employee Record Management System from public internet access or restrict access via VPN or IP whitelisting. 6. Engage with the vendor for official patches or updates and plan for timely application once available. 7. Conduct security awareness training for IT staff to recognize and respond to exploitation attempts. 8. Perform regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on injection vulnerabilities to identify and remediate similar issues proactively.