CVE-2025-5211 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.3 of the PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System, specifically within the /myprofile.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'EmpCode' parameter, which is used in SQL queries. An attacker can manipulate this parameter remotely without any authentication or user interaction, injecting malicious SQL code that can alter the intended database queries. This can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, potentially compromising employee records and sensitive organizational information. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9, categorized as medium severity, reflecting a network attack vector with low complexity and no privileges or user interaction required. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is considered low to medium, as the vulnerability affects limited processing within the application and does not involve system-level access or widespread service disruption. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, but the vulnerability details have been disclosed publicly, increasing the risk of exploitation.

For European organizations using PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System version 1.3, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to employee data, which may include personally identifiable information (PII), payroll details, and other sensitive HR records. Exploitation could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), reputational damage, and potential financial penalties. The ability to remotely exploit the vulnerability without authentication increases the threat level, especially for organizations with internet-facing instances of the affected system. However, the medium severity and limited scope suggest that the impact might be contained if proper network segmentation and access controls are in place. Organizations relying heavily on this system for employee management should be particularly vigilant, as compromised data integrity could disrupt HR operations and employee trust.

Given the absence of an official patch, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. These include: 1) Restricting access to the Employee Record Management System to trusted internal networks or via VPN to prevent unauthorized remote access; 2) Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the 'EmpCode' parameter; 3) Conducting thorough input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied data, especially parameters used in SQL queries; 4) Monitoring application logs for unusual query patterns or repeated failed access attempts; 5) Planning for an upgrade or patch deployment as soon as the vendor releases a fix; 6) Performing regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on injection flaws; 7) Educating IT staff about the vulnerability to ensure rapid incident response if exploitation is detected.