CVE-2025-55444 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability identified in the id2 parameter of the cancel_booking.php page within the Online Artwork and Fine Arts MCA Project 1.0. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to inject arbitrary SQL queries without requiring authentication or user interaction, enabling direct manipulation of the backend database. Exploitation can lead to database enumeration, exposing sensitive data such as user information, booking details, and potentially administrative credentials. Furthermore, the vulnerability may allow remote code execution (RCE) on the server, significantly escalating the threat by enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (SQL Injection) and CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), indicating that the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the high severity, with attack vector being network-based, no privileges or user interaction required, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches or fixes are currently available, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date (August 20, 2025). Given the nature of the affected application—a project focused on online artwork and fine arts bookings—this vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt business operations, steal intellectual property, or pivot to further attacks within the hosting environment.

For European organizations, especially those involved in the arts, cultural institutions, galleries, and online booking services, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to customer data, including personally identifiable information (PII), payment details, and booking histories, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The potential for remote code execution elevates the threat to critical infrastructure, as attackers could deploy malware, ransomware, or establish persistent backdoors. This could result in operational downtime, reputational damage, financial losses due to regulatory fines and remediation costs, and erosion of customer trust. Additionally, the arts sector often collaborates internationally, so data breaches could have cross-border implications. The lack of available patches means organizations must rely on immediate mitigation strategies to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation and high impact make it a priority for security teams in affected sectors.

1. Immediate code review and input validation: Developers should implement strict input validation and parameterized queries (prepared statements) for the id2 parameter to prevent SQL injection. 2. Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy or update WAF rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the cancel_booking.php endpoint. 3. Access controls: Restrict access to the cancel_booking.php page to authenticated and authorized users where possible, reducing the attack surface. 4. Monitoring and logging: Enhance logging around database queries and web requests to detect anomalous activities indicative of SQL injection attempts. 5. Network segmentation: Isolate the database server from direct internet access and limit connectivity to only necessary application servers. 6. Incident response readiness: Prepare for potential exploitation by having backup and recovery procedures in place, and conduct threat hunting to identify any signs of compromise. 7. Vendor engagement: Engage with the software vendor or project maintainers to expedite patch development and deployment. 8. Temporary disablement: If feasible, temporarily disable the vulnerable functionality until a secure fix is available to prevent exploitation.