CVE-2025-60798 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in phpPgAdmin, an open-source web-based administration tool for PostgreSQL databases. The flaw exists in the display.php script at line 396, where the application directly passes user-controlled input from the $_REQUEST['query'] parameter to the browseQuery function without proper sanitization or parameterization. This lack of input validation allows an authenticated attacker to inject malicious SQL code, which the database executes. Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, as attackers can craft queries to extract sensitive information from the database. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have valid credentials to access phpPgAdmin, but no additional user interaction is necessary. The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, and no impact on integrity or availability. No patches or known exploits are currently documented, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be considered a significant risk for environments using vulnerable phpPgAdmin versions. The root cause is a classic CWE-89 SQL Injection due to improper input handling, emphasizing the need for secure coding practices such as prepared statements and input sanitization.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for those relying on phpPgAdmin to manage PostgreSQL databases that contain sensitive or regulated data. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, including personal data protected under GDPR, intellectual property, or critical business data. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability, the breach of confidentiality alone can result in regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure in Europe are particularly at risk due to their reliance on PostgreSQL and the sensitive nature of their data. The requirement for authentication limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, as credential compromise or insider threats could facilitate exploitation. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests a window of opportunity for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

1. Restrict access to phpPgAdmin interfaces using network-level controls such as VPNs, IP whitelisting, or firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted users only. 2. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms and monitor access logs for suspicious activity to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Apply patches or updates from the phpPgAdmin project as soon as they become available to address the vulnerability directly. 4. Implement input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied data, particularly the 'query' parameter, using prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection. 5. Limit database user privileges associated with phpPgAdmin to the minimum necessary, avoiding use of superuser or highly privileged accounts. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on injection flaws and other input validation issues. 7. Educate administrators and developers about secure coding practices and the risks of SQL injection. 8. Consider alternative database management tools with stronger security postures if timely patching is not feasible.