CVE-2025-5212 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.3 of the PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System, specifically within the /admin/editempexp.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'emp1name' parameter, which is susceptible to malicious input manipulation. An attacker can exploit this flaw remotely without any authentication or user interaction, by injecting crafted SQL commands through the vulnerable parameter. This can lead to unauthorized access to the underlying database, allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive employee records or potentially escalate their privileges within the system. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level, with attack vector network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L), and the scope is unchanged (S:U). Although no public exploits are currently known in the wild, the disclosure of the vulnerability and the availability of exploit details increase the risk of exploitation. The lack of an official patch or mitigation guidance from the vendor further exacerbates the threat landscape for affected users. Given the nature of the system—managing sensitive employee data—this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizational data security and privacy compliance.

For European organizations using PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure and manipulation of employee data, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The compromise of employee records can result in identity theft, insider threat facilitation, and reputational damage. Additionally, attackers could leverage the SQL Injection to pivot within the network, potentially accessing other critical systems or escalating privileges. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases the risk of widespread attacks, especially in organizations with internet-facing administrative interfaces. The impact is particularly severe for sectors with stringent compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government entities within Europe. Furthermore, data integrity issues could disrupt HR operations, payroll processing, and auditing, leading to operational downtime and financial losses.

Organizations should immediately audit their use of PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System version 1.3 and restrict access to the /admin/editempexp.php endpoint to trusted internal networks only. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with SQL Injection detection rules can provide temporary protection against exploitation attempts. Input validation and parameterized queries should be enforced in the application code to prevent injection attacks; if source code access is available, developers must sanitize and validate the 'emp1name' parameter rigorously. Monitoring database logs for suspicious queries and unusual access patterns is recommended to detect potential exploitation. Organizations should engage with the vendor or community to obtain patches or updates and plan for an upgrade to a fixed version once available. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege to database accounts used by the application can limit the damage from a successful injection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on SQL Injection vectors should be conducted to ensure ongoing protection.