CVE-2025-8273 in Exam Form Submission
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2025
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in code-projects Exam Form Submission 1.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file /admin/update_s8.php. The manipulation of the argument credits leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2025
This critical sql injection vulnerability exists within the Exam Form Submission 1.0 application developed by code-projects and specifically affects the administrative update_s8.php file. The flaw occurs when the credits parameter is processed within an unknown function, creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the database query execution flow. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates severe impact potential, as sql injection attacks can result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. This particular vulnerability is remotely exploitable, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to execute malicious payloads, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential impact.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the credits argument parameter, which is likely passed directly into sql query construction without proper input validation or parameterization. When an attacker supplies malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into database queries, allowing sql injection payloads to execute with the privileges of the database user account. This type of vulnerability maps directly to common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications. The attack can be launched from any remote location where the application is accessible, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors from anywhere on the internet without requiring local network access or system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify, delete, or extract all database records, including user credentials, exam results, and potentially sensitive personal information. The disclosed exploit status means that malicious actors have already developed and shared working attack code, eliminating the need for custom development and significantly increasing the risk to affected organizations. This vulnerability represents a severe threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the exam submission system's data, potentially compromising the entire administrative functionality of the application. Organizations running this software are at immediate risk of data breaches and unauthorized modifications to exam records, which could have serious implications for academic integrity and institutional security.
Organizations must implement immediate remediation measures including applying the latest security patches from the vendor, if available, or implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing proper input sanitization routines, employing prepared statements or parameterized queries, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Security teams should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected components within their application architecture, as sql injection vulnerabilities often exist in multiple locations within complex applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application, emphasizing the need for proper application hardening and regular security testing to prevent successful exploitation attempts.