CVE-2025-4816 in Doctor's Appointment System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2025
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Doctor's Appointment System 1.0. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the file /admin/appointment.php of the component GET Parameter Handler. The manipulation of the argument ID leads to sql injection. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
This critical vulnerability exists within the SourceCodester Doctor's Appointment System version 1.0 where improper input validation occurs in the GET parameter handler component. The specific file affected is /admin/appointment.php which processes user input through the ID parameter without adequate sanitization or parameterization mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands. This represents a classic sql injection flaw that allows attackers to manipulate the underlying database structure and potentially extract sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker supplies a malicious value through the ID parameter in the GET request to the appointment.php file. Without proper input validation or parameterized query execution, the application directly incorporates the user-provided ID value into SQL query construction, enabling attackers to append additional SQL statements that can alter the intended query behavior. This allows for unauthorized database access, data manipulation, and potential privilege escalation within the application's database layer. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates the severity of potential impact, as it provides attackers with significant control over the database operations and potentially the entire backend system.
The remote exploitation capability of this vulnerability means that attackers can leverage this flaw without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from any location with internet access and knowledge of the target system's URL structure. The public disclosure of the exploit increases the likelihood of real-world attacks, as malicious actors can immediately utilize existing proof-of-concept code to target vulnerable installations. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include complete database compromise, which may result in unauthorized access to patient records, appointment scheduling manipulation, and potential system-wide service disruption.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the application codebase. All user-supplied input must be validated against expected formats and sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be mandatory for all database interactions, which would prevent the injection of malicious SQL code regardless of input content. Additionally, the application should enforce proper access controls and implement input filtering mechanisms that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters. Regular security auditing and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system, while implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws and represents a violation of the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework's database access techniques.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in web applications. Organizations utilizing this system must immediately implement patches or code modifications to address the parameter handling flaw, while also conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify potential additional vulnerabilities. The public availability of exploit code significantly reduces the time window for remediation, making immediate action essential to protect patient data and system integrity.