CVE-2025-4077 in School Billing System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/29/2025
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in code-projects School Billing System 1.0. This vulnerability affects the function searchrec. The manipulation of the argument Name leads to stack-based buffer overflow. It is possible to launch the attack on the local host. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-4077 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the code-projects School Billing System version 1.0. This vulnerability specifically impacts the searchrec function which processes user input through the Name argument. The buffer overflow occurs when an attacker provides excessively long input to the Name parameter, causing memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the scope of CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader weakness type CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. This classification indicates that the system fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it to a fixed-size buffer on the stack. The attack vector is local host-based, meaning exploitation requires access to the system where the application is running, though this limitation does not diminish the severity of the potential impact. The fact that a public exploit has been disclosed significantly increases the risk profile, as it removes the requirement for advanced exploitation techniques and makes the vulnerability immediately actionable by threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or application crashes. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can allow attackers to execute malicious code in the context of the running School Billing System process, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data theft, or complete system takeover. The school billing system likely handles sensitive financial information and personal data, making the compromise of such a system particularly concerning from both privacy and security perspectives. The local attack requirement means that an attacker must already have access to the system, but this access could be gained through various initial compromise vectors such as phishing attacks, credential theft, or other pre-existing vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-4077 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the searchrec function to prevent excessive data from being copied to the Name buffer. This includes implementing proper string length validation, using safe string handling functions, and potentially employing stack protection mechanisms such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for the School Billing System application, limiting its access rights to only necessary resources. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability, and network segmentation should be considered to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of defensive programming practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the compromised application.