CVE-2025-6500 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the code-projects Inventory Management System, specifically within the /php_action/editCategories.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'editCategoriesName' parameter, which is susceptible to malicious input manipulation. An attacker can exploit this flaw remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction, by sending crafted requests that inject arbitrary SQL commands. This can lead to unauthorized access, modification, or deletion of database records, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the inventory management data. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of exploitation, although no known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9 (medium severity), reflecting the ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges, no user interaction) but limited impact scope (low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability). The vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of the product, and no patches or mitigations have been officially released yet. Given the critical nature of SQL Injection vulnerabilities, attackers could leverage this to extract sensitive business data, manipulate inventory records, or disrupt business operations remotely.

For European organizations using the code-projects Inventory Management System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to operational continuity and data security. Inventory management systems often contain sensitive business data such as stock levels, supplier information, pricing, and transactional records. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data tampering, or denial of service, impacting supply chain management and financial reporting. This could result in financial losses, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR breaches if personal data is involved), and reputational damage. Since the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, attackers could target exposed web interfaces directly, increasing the attack surface. Organizations in sectors with critical supply chains, such as manufacturing, retail, and logistics, may face heightened risks. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate threat levels, but public disclosure increases the likelihood of future attacks. The medium CVSS score suggests moderate impact, but the critical classification and nature of SQL Injection warrant urgent attention.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting external access to the Inventory Management System’s web interface, ideally limiting it to trusted internal networks or VPNs. 2. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting SQL Injection patterns on the 'editCategoriesName' parameter to block malicious payloads. 3. Conduct manual code review and apply input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements to sanitize all user inputs, especially in /php_action/editCategories.php. 4. If possible, upgrade to a newer, patched version of the software once available; until then, consider temporary removal or disabling of the vulnerable functionality. 5. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual or suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint. 6. Educate IT and security teams on the vulnerability details to ensure rapid detection and response. 7. Perform penetration testing focused on SQL Injection vectors to identify any other potential injection points. 8. Develop an incident response plan specific to potential exploitation scenarios of this vulnerability.