CVE-2025-10424: 1000projects Student System RCE Flaw

CVE-2025-10424 Overview

CVE-2025-10424 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability discovered in 1000projects Online Student Project Report Submission and Evaluation System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /admin/controller/faculty_controller.php file, where manipulation of the new_image argument allows attackers to upload arbitrary files without proper validation. This flaw can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially enabling attackers to upload malicious files such as web shells that could lead to further system compromise.

Critical Impact

Attackers can remotely upload arbitrary files to the vulnerable server by exploiting the unrestricted file upload flaw in the faculty controller, potentially leading to remote code execution if malicious scripts are uploaded and executed.

Affected Products

• 1000projects Online Student Project Report Submission and Evaluation System version 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• September 15, 2025 - CVE-2025-10424 published to NVD
• September 18, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-10424

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type) and CWE-284 (Improper Access Control). The flaw resides in the faculty controller component of the application, specifically within the file upload functionality that handles the new_image parameter. The application fails to properly validate or restrict the types of files that can be uploaded through this endpoint.

When processing file uploads, the vulnerable component does not implement adequate security controls to verify file extensions, MIME types, or file content. This allows an attacker to bypass intended restrictions and upload files with executable extensions (such as .php, .phtml, or other server-side scripts) that can then be accessed and executed on the server.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that any attacker with network access to the application can attempt exploitation without requiring prior authentication or special privileges. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of active exploitation in the wild.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of proper file type validation in the /admin/controller/faculty_controller.php file. The application accepts user-supplied input through the new_image parameter and processes file uploads without verifying that the uploaded file conforms to expected and safe file types. This lack of input validation and access control allows arbitrary file uploads to be stored on the server.

Attack Vector

The attack can be carried out remotely over the network. An attacker would craft a malicious HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint /admin/controller/faculty_controller.php, including a specially crafted file in the new_image parameter. The malicious file could be a PHP web shell or similar script that, once uploaded, can be accessed via the web server to execute arbitrary commands.

The vulnerability is exploited by:

1. Identifying the vulnerable upload endpoint in the faculty controller
2. Crafting a malicious file disguised with image-related naming but containing executable code
3. Submitting the file through the new_image parameter
4. Locating and accessing the uploaded file on the server to trigger code execution

For detailed technical information about the exploit, refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB entry #323858.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-10424

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected files with executable extensions (.php, .phtml, .jsp) appearing in image upload directories
• Web server access logs showing requests to newly created files in upload directories
• Suspicious POST requests to /admin/controller/faculty_controller.php with file upload payloads
• Unusual process spawning from web server processes indicating potential web shell activity

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system changes in web application upload directories for files with executable extensions
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block file upload attempts with dangerous extensions
• Review access logs for suspicious patterns targeting the faculty controller endpoint
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on upload directories to detect unauthorized file additions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all file upload operations in the application
• Configure alerts for file creation events in upload directories that don't match expected image file signatures
• Monitor for outbound connections from the web server that may indicate post-exploitation activity
• Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect web shell behavior patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-10424

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the vulnerable application until a patch is available
• Remove or disable the affected file upload functionality in /admin/controller/faculty_controller.php
• Audit existing upload directories for any suspicious or unexpected files
• Implement strong access controls to limit who can access the admin controller

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability. Organizations using the affected software should contact 1000projects for remediation guidance or implement the workarounds described below. Monitor the VulDB entry for updates on patch availability.

Workarounds

• Implement server-side file type validation that checks both file extensions and MIME types
• Configure the web server to prevent execution of scripts in upload directories using appropriate directives
• Use allowlist-based validation that only permits specific safe file extensions (e.g., .jpg, .png, .gif)
• Store uploaded files outside the web root or in a location where script execution is disabled
• Consider implementing file content inspection to verify uploaded files match their claimed type

# Apache configuration to prevent script execution in upload directories
# Add to .htaccess or httpd.conf for the uploads directory

<Directory "/path/to/uploads">
    # Disable script execution
    php_flag engine off
    
    # Alternative: restrict to specific file types only
    <FilesMatch "\.(?!(jpg|jpeg|png|gif)$)[^.]+$">
        Require all denied
    </FilesMatch>
</Directory>