CVE-2025-9053 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the projectworlds Travel Management System, specifically within the /updatesubcategory.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the input parameters 't1' and 's1', which are directly used in SQL queries. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to remotely inject malicious SQL code, potentially manipulating the backend database. The CVSS 4.0 score of 6.9 (medium severity) reflects that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and has partial impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L). The vulnerability is exploitable without authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the public disclosure of the exploit code raises the likelihood of exploitation attempts. The absence of patches or mitigation guidance from the vendor at this time further elevates the risk. SQL Injection vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete compromise of the underlying database and application, depending on the database permissions and environment configuration. Given the nature of travel management systems, which typically handle sensitive customer data, booking details, and payment information, exploitation could result in significant data breaches and operational disruptions.

For European organizations using the projectworlds Travel Management System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their travel-related data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal identifiable information (PII) of customers, including travel itineraries, payment details, and identity documents, which would violate GDPR and other data protection regulations. Integrity of booking and transaction data could be compromised, leading to fraudulent bookings or financial losses. Availability impacts could disrupt travel operations, causing reputational damage and financial penalties. Additionally, a successful attack could be leveraged as a foothold for further network intrusion. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, exploitation may require some conditions such as specific query structures or database configurations. However, the lack of authentication requirement and remote exploitability make it accessible to a wide range of attackers, including automated scanning and exploitation tools. European travel agencies and service providers using this system must consider the regulatory and operational consequences of such a breach.

1. Immediate mitigation should include implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable parameters 't1' and 's1'. 2. Conduct a thorough code review and apply input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements to sanitize all user inputs in /updatesubcategory.php and other related modules. 3. If possible, isolate the affected system from public internet access until a patch or fix is deployed. 4. Monitor logs for suspicious activity related to SQL injection patterns and unusual database queries. 5. Engage with the vendor to obtain or request a security patch or upgrade to a fixed version. 6. Perform a comprehensive security assessment of the entire Travel Management System to identify other potential injection points or vulnerabilities. 7. Educate development and security teams on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in future releases. 8. Implement network segmentation and least privilege principles for database access to limit the impact of any successful exploitation.