CVE-2025-59397 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in Open Web Analytics (OWA) prior to version 1.8.1, specifically within the owa_db.php file's handling of the 'v[value]' parameter. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89), allowing an attacker with low privileges to inject arbitrary SQL code remotely without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.1 score is 5.0, reflecting network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C). The impact is limited to confidentiality loss (C:L) without affecting integrity or availability. Exploitation could enable unauthorized reading of sensitive data from the analytics database, potentially exposing user behavior, internal metrics, or configuration details. No public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported to date. The vulnerability affects all versions before 1.8.1, with no official patches currently linked. The flaw underscores the importance of secure coding practices, particularly input validation and use of parameterized queries in web analytics platforms that process user-supplied data. Organizations relying on OWA for web analytics should prioritize upgrading or implementing mitigations to prevent data leakage.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-59397 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive analytics data, which may include user behavior, traffic patterns, and internal performance metrics. This could lead to privacy violations under GDPR if personal data is exposed, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Although the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or system availability, the confidentiality breach could aid attackers in reconnaissance or further targeted attacks. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, face heightened risks. Additionally, compromised analytics data could undermine business decision-making and competitive advantage. The medium severity rating reflects the need for timely remediation to avoid potential data leaks, especially as exploitation requires only low privileges and no user interaction, facilitating remote attacks.

1. Upgrade Open Web Analytics to version 1.8.1 or later as soon as it becomes available to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Until an official patch is released, implement strict input validation and sanitization on all parameters processed by owa_db.php, particularly the 'v[value]' parameter, to neutralize special SQL characters. 3. Employ parameterized queries or prepared statements in the OWA codebase to prevent SQL injection. 4. Restrict access to the OWA installation and its database to trusted internal networks and authenticated users only, minimizing exposure. 5. Monitor web server and database logs for unusual query patterns or failed SQL commands that may indicate attempted exploitation. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on web analytics components. 7. Educate development and operations teams on secure coding practices and the risks of SQL injection vulnerabilities. 8. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting OWA endpoints.