CVE-2025-5971 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the code-projects School Fees Payment System, specifically within the /ajx.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'name_startsWith' parameter, which can be manipulated remotely by an unauthenticated attacker to inject malicious SQL code. This injection can lead to unauthorized access to the backend database, potentially allowing attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive data related to school fee payments, student records, or administrative information. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited over the network without authentication, increasing its risk profile. Despite being classified as critical in the description, the official CVSS 4.0 score is 5.3 (medium severity), reflecting limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability due to low privileges required and limited scope of the affected component. No known exploits are currently observed in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability's public disclosure raises the risk of exploitation by opportunistic attackers targeting educational institutions using this payment system.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions and school districts using the code-projects School Fees Payment System version 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive student and financial data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, manipulation of payment records, or disruption of fee processing operations. This could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and potential regulatory penalties under GDPR due to exposure of personal data. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the attack vector increases the likelihood of exploitation, especially in environments where the system is exposed to the internet or insufficiently segmented networks. Additionally, compromised systems could be leveraged as pivot points for further attacks within the organization's network. The medium CVSS score suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, the overall impact may be mitigated if the affected system is isolated or access-controlled. However, the lack of available patches and public exploit disclosure necessitates immediate attention to prevent exploitation.

1. Immediate network-level controls: Restrict external access to the School Fees Payment System, especially the /ajx.php endpoint, using firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the 'name_startsWith' parameter. 2. Input validation and sanitization: Developers should implement strict input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection in the affected codebase. 3. System isolation: Segregate the payment system from other critical infrastructure and sensitive data stores to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 4. Monitoring and detection: Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) and log analysis focusing on anomalous database queries or repeated access attempts to the vulnerable parameter. 5. Incident response readiness: Prepare to respond to potential data breaches by having backup data, forensic capabilities, and communication plans in place. 6. Vendor engagement: Engage with the vendor or community maintaining the code-projects system to obtain or develop patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. 7. Temporary mitigations: If patching is not immediately possible, consider disabling or restricting the vulnerable functionality until a fix is available.