CVE-2025-12263
📋 TL;DR
This SQL injection vulnerability in code-projects Online Event Judging System 1.0 allows attackers to manipulate database queries through the judge_id parameter in /edit_judge.php. Attackers can potentially read, modify, or delete database contents, including sensitive event judging data. Organizations using this specific software version are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- code-projects Online Event Judging System
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise leading to data theft, data manipulation, or system takeover via SQL injection to execute arbitrary commands.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to sensitive judging data, event participant information, or system credentials stored in the database.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation and database permissions restricting damage to non-critical data.
🎯 Exploit Status
The exploit is publicly available according to the CVE description, suggesting exploitation tools or scripts may exist.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: UNKNOWN
Vendor Advisory: https://code-projects.org/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check code-projects.org for security updates or patches. 2. If no patch is available, consider migrating to a different event judging system. 3. Apply input validation and parameterized queries to the vulnerable code.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
allDeploy a WAF with SQL injection protection rules to block malicious requests to /edit_judge.php
Input Validation Filter
allImplement server-side validation to ensure judge_id parameter contains only expected values (e.g., numeric IDs)
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate the system behind a firewall with strict access controls
- Implement database-level protections: use least privilege accounts, enable query logging, and restrict database permissions
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test the /edit_judge.php endpoint with SQL injection payloads in the judge_id parameter (e.g., judge_id=1' OR '1'='1)Check Version:
Check application documentation or source code for version information; typically found in README files or configuration filesVerify Fix Applied:
After applying fixes, retest with SQL injection payloads to confirm they are properly rejected or sanitized📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL error messages in web server logs
- Multiple failed requests to /edit_judge.php with suspicious parameters
- Database query logs showing unexpected SQL patterns
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to /edit_judge.php containing SQL keywords (SELECT, UNION, etc.) in parameters
- Unusual database connection patterns from web server
SIEM Query:
source="web_server.log" AND uri="/edit_judge.php" AND (param="*SELECT*" OR param="*UNION*" OR param="*OR*1*" OR param="*--*" OR param="*'*")