CVE-2025-5216 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 3.20 of the PHPGurukul Student Record System, specifically within the /login.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'ID' parameter, which can be manipulated by an attacker to inject malicious SQL code. This flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the backend database without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability's CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level, with an attack vector classified as network-based (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low to limited (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L), suggesting that while exploitation is feasible remotely and easily, the extent of damage might be constrained by the application's design or database permissions. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or mitigations have been published as of the vulnerability disclosure date (May 27, 2025). Given that the vulnerability affects a student record management system, exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive student data, modification of records, or denial of service, potentially compromising academic integrity and privacy.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions using PHPGurukul Student Record System version 3.20, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of student data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal information, academic records, and potentially sensitive administrative data. This could result in violations of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), leading to legal penalties and reputational damage. Furthermore, manipulation of student records could disrupt academic processes and trust in institutional data management. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases the risk of widespread attacks, especially if the system is exposed to the internet without adequate network protections. Although the CVSS score suggests medium severity, the critical classification and the nature of the data involved elevate the practical impact for educational entities. Additionally, the lack of patches and public exploit code may encourage threat actors to develop and deploy attacks, increasing urgency for mitigation.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting external access to the /login.php endpoint by implementing network-level controls such as firewalls or VPNs to limit exposure. 2. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the 'ID' parameter. 3. Conduct a thorough code review and apply input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements to sanitize the 'ID' input, eliminating injection vectors. 4. If possible, upgrade to a newer, patched version of the PHPGurukul Student Record System once available, or apply vendor-provided patches promptly. 5. Monitor logs for suspicious activities related to login attempts and unusual database queries. 6. Implement database-level restrictions, such as least privilege access for the application user, to limit the potential damage of SQL injection. 7. Educate IT staff and administrators about this vulnerability and the importance of timely patching and monitoring. 8. Consider isolating the student record system within a segmented network zone to reduce lateral movement in case of compromise.