CVE-2025-9699 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in SourceCodester Online Polling System Code version 1.0, specifically within the /admin/checklogin.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'myusername' parameter, which is directly used in SQL queries. This flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject malicious SQL code, potentially manipulating the backend database. The attack vector requires no authentication or user interaction, and the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9 reflects a medium severity, indicating a significant risk but with some limitations in impact scope. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent, as indicated by the CVSS vector (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L). Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of polling data, or disruption of polling services. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, but the exploit code has been made publicly available, increasing the risk of exploitation. The lack of patches or official remediation guidance from the vendor further heightens the urgency for organizations using this software to implement mitigations. Given that the affected component is part of an online polling system, the vulnerability could be leveraged to manipulate poll results, undermine trust in polling processes, or exfiltrate user credentials if the database stores them. The vulnerability's presence in an administrative login script suggests that successful exploitation might grant elevated privileges or administrative access, amplifying potential damage.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends on the adoption of the SourceCodester Online Polling System Code 1.0. Organizations using this system for internal or public polling could face data breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, and service disruption. This could lead to reputational damage, especially for entities relying on polling data for decision-making or public opinion analysis. In sectors such as government, education, or market research, compromised polling integrity could have broader societal implications. Additionally, if the polling system is integrated with other internal systems, exploitation could serve as a pivot point for deeper network intrusion. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it may not lead to full system compromise without additional vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. However, the ease of remote exploitation without authentication increases the risk profile. European organizations must consider the potential for data privacy violations under GDPR if personal data is exposed or manipulated, which could result in regulatory penalties.

Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should take immediate steps to mitigate risk. First, implement strict input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements in the /admin/checklogin.php script to prevent SQL injection. If source code modification is not feasible, restrict access to the administrative login page via network controls such as IP whitelisting, VPN access, or web application firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection and blocking capabilities. Regularly monitor logs for suspicious login attempts or unusual database queries. Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing focused on injection flaws in the polling system. Where possible, isolate the polling system from critical internal networks to limit lateral movement. Organizations should also consider migrating to alternative polling solutions with active security support. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups of polling data to enable recovery in case of data corruption or deletion.