CVE-2025-61540 identifies an SQL injection vulnerability in Ultimate PHP Board version 2.2.7, specifically within the lostpassword.php script's username input field. SQL injection (CWE-89) occurs when user-supplied input is improperly sanitized and directly concatenated into SQL queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the database query logic. In this case, the vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication or user interaction, as the username field is accessible via the lost password functionality. An attacker can craft malicious input to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, modify data integrity by altering database records, or potentially escalate privileges depending on database permissions. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability (C:L/I:L/A:N). No patches or exploit code are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The lack of affected version details beyond 2.2.7 suggests that this version is confirmed vulnerable, and other versions should be assessed. The vulnerability highlights the need for secure coding practices such as parameterized queries and rigorous input validation in PHP-based web applications.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data disclosure and data integrity compromise in any deployment of Ultimate PHP Board 2.2.7, particularly those with public-facing lost password functionality. Attackers could extract user data, including usernames and potentially hashed passwords, which could facilitate further attacks such as credential stuffing or phishing. Data integrity could be impacted if attackers modify database records, undermining trust in the affected systems. While availability is not directly impacted, the reputational damage and potential regulatory consequences under GDPR for data breaches could be significant. Organizations relying on Ultimate PHP Board for community engagement or internal forums may face operational disruptions if attackers exploit this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the ease of exploitation and lack of authentication requirements increase the urgency. European entities with strict data protection obligations must prioritize remediation to avoid compliance violations and potential fines.

European organizations should immediately audit their use of Ultimate PHP Board, specifically verifying if version 2.2.7 or earlier is in use. In the absence of an official patch, implement the following mitigations: 1) Apply input validation and sanitization on the username field in lostpassword.php to reject or escape SQL metacharacters. 2) Refactor database queries to use prepared statements with parameterized queries to eliminate injection vectors. 3) Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary to limit damage if exploited. 4) Monitor web server and database logs for unusual query patterns or repeated failed password reset attempts. 5) Consider temporarily disabling the lost password functionality if it cannot be secured promptly. 6) Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices and conduct code reviews focused on injection flaws. 7) Plan for timely patching once an official update is released by the vendor. 8) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice and address the specific attack vector and environment.