CVE-2025-5838 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.3 of the PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System, specifically within the /admin/adminprofile.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'AdminName' parameter, which is directly used in SQL queries. This flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker with limited privileges (likely a logged-in admin user) to manipulate the SQL query structure by injecting malicious SQL code through the 'AdminName' argument. The injection can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion within the underlying database. Although the CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.3 (medium severity), the vulnerability is notable because it requires no user interaction and can be exploited remotely. However, it does require some level of privileges (PR:L), indicating that the attacker must have limited access, possibly a low-privileged admin account. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L), meaning the attacker can partially compromise these security properties. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, but the exploit details have been disclosed publicly, increasing the risk of exploitation. The lack of available patches or mitigation links suggests that organizations using this version of the software remain vulnerable until an update or workaround is applied.

For European organizations using PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to sensitive employee data, including personal information and administrative credentials. Exploitation could lead to data breaches, manipulation of employee records, or disruption of HR operations. Given the critical nature of employee data under GDPR regulations, any unauthorized data exposure could result in significant legal and financial penalties. The partial compromise of data integrity and availability could also affect business continuity and trust in internal systems. Since the vulnerability requires some level of privilege, insider threats or compromised low-level admin accounts could be leveraged by attackers to escalate their impact. Organizations relying on this software without timely patching or mitigation may face increased risk of targeted attacks, especially in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions across Europe.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting access to the /admin/adminprofile.php endpoint to trusted administrators only, ideally through network segmentation or VPN access. 2. Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements in the affected code to prevent SQL injection. 3. Upgrade to a patched version of the PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System once available; if no patch exists, consider disabling or restricting the vulnerable functionality. 4. Conduct thorough audits of admin accounts to ensure no unauthorized or low-privilege accounts exist that could be exploited. 5. Monitor database logs and application logs for suspicious SQL queries or unusual admin activities. 6. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the 'AdminName' parameter. 7. Educate administrators on secure credential management and the risks of privilege escalation. 8. As a longer-term measure, consider migrating to more secure and actively maintained HR management solutions with robust security practices.