CVE-2025-5249 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 4.1 of the PHPGurukul News Portal Project, specifically within the /admin/add-category.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'Category' parameter, which is directly used in SQL queries. This flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject malicious SQL code, potentially manipulating the backend database. The attack vector requires no authentication or user interaction, making it highly accessible to threat actors. Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or deletion, and in some cases, could allow attackers to escalate privileges or execute administrative commands on the database server. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, categorized as medium severity, reflecting the network attack vector, low complexity, and no privileges or user interaction required. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application’s data, though the impact is rated as low for each individual metric, indicating limited scope or partial impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but public disclosure increases the risk of exploitation. The absence of patches or mitigation links suggests that users of this software version should urgently review and implement security controls or updates once available.

For European organizations using the PHPGurukul News Portal Project 4.1, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity and confidentiality of their news content and associated user data. Exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive editorial information, manipulation of published content, or exposure of user credentials if stored in the database. This could damage organizational reputation, lead to misinformation dissemination, or violate data protection regulations such as GDPR. Additionally, attackers could leverage the vulnerability to pivot into internal networks if the news portal is integrated with other systems. Given the remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit, the threat is elevated, especially for organizations that have not implemented compensating controls or network segmentation. The impact is particularly critical for media outlets, governmental communication platforms, and educational institutions relying on this software for public information dissemination.

1. Immediate code review and sanitization: Developers should implement parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions involving user input, especially the 'Category' parameter in /admin/add-category.php. 2. Input validation: Enforce strict validation rules on all inputs to ensure only expected data types and formats are accepted. 3. Web application firewall (WAF): Deploy and configure a WAF to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint. 4. Network segmentation: Isolate the news portal server from critical internal systems to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 5. Monitoring and logging: Enable detailed logging of database queries and web requests to detect anomalous activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Patch management: Monitor vendor announcements for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly. 7. Access control: Restrict administrative interface access to trusted IP addresses or via VPN to reduce exposure. 8. Backup and recovery: Maintain regular backups of the database and application to enable rapid restoration if data integrity is compromised.