CVE-2025-9701 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the SourceCodester Simple Cafe Billing System, specifically within an unknown function in the /receipt.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'ID' parameter, which an attacker can manipulate to inject malicious SQL code. This flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries on the backend database without requiring authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of exploitation, although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges or user interaction needed (PR:N/UI:N), and partial impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:L/VI:L/VA:L). The vulnerability does not affect system confidentiality, integrity, or availability completely but can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or potential disruption of billing operations. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be available, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation efforts.

For European organizations using the Simple Cafe Billing System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of their billing data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer and transaction information, potentially resulting in financial fraud, data breaches, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. The integrity of billing records could be compromised, affecting financial reporting and customer trust. Availability impacts, while partial, could disrupt billing operations, causing business interruptions. Given the billing system's role in daily transactions, even partial availability degradation could have operational and reputational consequences. The remote exploitability without authentication increases the threat level, especially for small to medium enterprises in the hospitality sector that may lack robust cybersecurity defenses. The public disclosure of the vulnerability further elevates the risk of opportunistic attacks targeting unpatched systems across Europe.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting external access to the /receipt.php endpoint via network-level controls such as firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the 'ID' parameter. 2. Implement input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements in the application code to sanitize and safely handle user inputs, eliminating the injection vector. 3. If source code modification is not immediately feasible, deploy virtual patching through WAF rules tailored to block malicious payloads targeting this vulnerability. 4. Conduct a thorough audit of all input handling in the billing system to identify and remediate similar injection risks. 5. Monitor logs for suspicious SQL query patterns or repeated access attempts to /receipt.php with unusual parameter values. 6. Engage with the vendor or community to obtain or develop an official patch or upgrade to a secure version once available. 7. Educate staff on the importance of timely patching and monitoring for suspicious activity, especially in systems handling financial transactions.