CVE-2025-9476 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in SourceCodester Human Resource Information System (HRIS) version 1.0. The vulnerability arises from an unrestricted file upload flaw in the web application, specifically in the /Superadmin_Dashboard/process/editemployee_process.php script. The issue is triggered by manipulation of the 'employee_file201' parameter, which allows an attacker to upload arbitrary files without proper validation or restriction. This flaw can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction, making it accessible to unauthenticated attackers over the network. The vulnerability could enable an attacker to upload malicious files such as web shells or scripts, potentially leading to remote code execution, server compromise, data theft, or further lateral movement within the affected environment. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the public disclosure of the exploit code increases the risk of exploitation. The lack of available patches or vendor mitigation guidance at the time of publication further elevates the urgency for affected organizations to implement compensating controls.

For European organizations using SourceCodester HRIS 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive employee and organizational data. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to personal data, violating GDPR requirements and potentially resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, attackers could leverage uploaded malicious files to gain persistent access, disrupt HR operations, or pivot to other critical systems within the enterprise network. The impact extends beyond data compromise to potential service outages or defacement, affecting business continuity. Given the HRIS's role in managing sensitive human resource information, exploitation could also lead to insider threat scenarios or identity theft. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases the likelihood of attacks, especially in environments where the HRIS is exposed to the internet or insufficiently segmented from other critical infrastructure.

Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the vulnerable upload functionality by implementing network-level controls such as IP whitelisting or VPN-only access to the HRIS administrative interfaces. Organizations should conduct thorough input validation and enforce strict file type and size restrictions on uploads, ideally blocking executable file types and scanning all uploads with updated antivirus and malware detection tools. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious upload attempts targeting the 'employee_file201' parameter. Since no official patches are available, organizations should consider isolating the HRIS system within a segmented network zone with limited access to reduce lateral movement risk. Regular monitoring of web server logs for anomalous upload activity and deploying intrusion detection systems (IDS) can help identify exploitation attempts early. Finally, organizations should engage with the vendor or community to obtain or develop patches and plan for timely updates once available.