CVE-2025-9742 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the code-projects Human Resource Integrated System, specifically affecting the /login.php endpoint. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of user-supplied input parameters, namely 'user' and 'pass', which are used in SQL queries without adequate protection. This flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject malicious SQL code, potentially manipulating the backend database. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system's data. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited over the network. Although no public exploits are currently known to be actively used in the wild, publicly available proof-of-concept code exists, increasing the risk of exploitation. The CVSS v4.0 base score is 6.9 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is critical for environments where sensitive HR data is stored, as unauthorized access could expose personal employee information or allow attackers to manipulate HR records.

For European organizations using the affected Human Resource Integrated System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of employee data. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal and sensitive information, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, potentially resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. Integrity compromise could allow attackers to alter HR records, affecting payroll, employment status, or access controls. Availability impact is limited but possible if attackers manipulate or delete critical data. Given the remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit, attackers could target these systems from anywhere, increasing the threat surface. Organizations relying on this software without timely patching or mitigations are at risk of data breaches and operational disruption.

1. Immediate application of vendor patches or updates once available is critical; if no patch exists, consider disabling or restricting access to the /login.php endpoint. 2. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules specifically designed to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the 'user' and 'pass' parameters. 3. Conduct thorough input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements in the application code to prevent injection attacks. 4. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary to limit the impact of any successful injection. 5. Monitor logs for unusual login attempts or SQL errors indicative of injection attempts. 6. Perform regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on authentication modules. 7. If possible, isolate the HR system network segment and enforce strict access controls to reduce exposure. 8. Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include this threat.