CVE-2025-9729 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 3.1 of the PHPGurukul Online Course Registration system, specifically within the /admin/student-registration.php file. The vulnerability arises due to improper sanitization or validation of the 'studentname' parameter, allowing an attacker to manipulate this input to inject malicious SQL queries. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the backend database without requiring authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low to limited (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L), suggesting that while exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access or modification, the scope and severity of damage are somewhat contained. No patches or fixes have been linked yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild at this time. The vulnerability is publicly disclosed, which increases the risk of exploitation as threat actors may develop exploits based on the available information. SQL Injection vulnerabilities are critical because they can lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data manipulation, or even full system compromise depending on the database privileges and application architecture. Given the affected product is an online course registration system, the database likely contains sensitive student information, registration details, and possibly administrative credentials, making this a significant concern for educational institutions using this software.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions and training providers using PHPGurukul Online Course Registration 3.1, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to student personal data, enrollment records, and potentially administrative functions. Exploitation could lead to data breaches violating GDPR regulations, resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. The ability to manipulate database queries remotely without authentication increases the threat level, as attackers can operate stealthily and potentially extract or alter sensitive information. Additionally, if the database privileges are not properly restricted, attackers might escalate the impact to disrupt service availability or gain further access to internal systems. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it may not lead to full system compromise in all cases, but the risk to confidentiality and integrity of student data remains significant. Organizations in Europe must consider the regulatory implications of any data breach and the operational impact of potential service disruptions in their educational environments.

1. Immediate code review and sanitization: Developers should audit the /admin/student-registration.php file to identify and fix the SQL injection point by implementing prepared statements with parameterized queries or using ORM frameworks that inherently prevent injection. 2. Input validation: Enforce strict validation and sanitization of all user inputs, especially the 'studentname' parameter, to reject malicious payloads. 3. Access controls: Restrict access to the admin interface to trusted IP addresses or VPNs to reduce exposure. 4. Database permissions: Ensure the database user account used by the application has the minimum necessary privileges, limiting the potential damage of a successful injection. 5. Monitoring and logging: Implement detailed logging of database queries and monitor for unusual query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Patch management: Stay alert for official patches or updates from PHPGurukul and apply them promptly once available. 7. Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF with rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable parameter. 8. Incident response planning: Prepare to respond quickly to any detected exploitation attempts, including isolating affected systems and notifying relevant data protection authorities if necessary.