CVE-2025-8269 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the code-projects Exam Form Submission application. The vulnerability exists in the /admin/delete_s1.php file, specifically through the manipulation of the 'ID' parameter. This parameter is not properly sanitized or validated, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction, making it highly accessible to attackers. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to the backend database, enabling attackers to read, modify, or delete sensitive data. Given the nature of the application, which likely handles exam form submissions, the exposure of confidential student or examination data is a significant risk. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, categorized as medium severity, reflecting the ease of exploitation and the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, albeit with limited scope and no privilege requirements. However, the vulnerability's critical nature stems from the direct database manipulation possible via SQL injection, which remains one of the most severe web application vulnerabilities. No patches or fixes have been publicly disclosed yet, and no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, but the public disclosure of the exploit details increases the risk of future attacks.

For European organizations using the code-projects Exam Form Submission 1.0 software, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of examination data and potentially other sensitive information stored in the backend database. Exploitation could lead to data breaches involving personal student information, exam results, or administrative data, which would have severe compliance implications under GDPR and other data protection regulations. Additionally, attackers could manipulate or delete exam records, disrupting academic processes and undermining trust in the affected institutions. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the attack vector increases the likelihood of exploitation, especially in environments where the application is exposed to the internet without adequate network segmentation or web application firewalls. The impact extends beyond data loss to potential reputational damage and legal consequences for educational institutions or organizations relying on this software. Given the criticality of exam data, the threat could also affect national education authorities or certification bodies using this product.

Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the /admin/delete_s1.php endpoint through network-level controls such as IP whitelisting or VPN access to limit exposure to trusted administrators only. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection and prevention rules can provide a temporary protective layer against exploitation attempts. Application-level mitigations include performing rigorous input validation and sanitization on the 'ID' parameter, preferably using parameterized queries or prepared statements to eliminate SQL injection risks. Organizations should monitor logs for suspicious activity targeting this endpoint and conduct regular security assessments to detect exploitation attempts. Since no official patches are currently available, organizations should engage with the vendor or consider upgrading to a newer, secure version if released. Additionally, organizations should review and enhance their incident response plans to quickly address any potential breaches stemming from this vulnerability.