CVE-2025-11660: School Management System RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-11660 Overview

A critical unrestricted file upload vulnerability has been identified in the Oranbyte School Management System. This vulnerability affects the /assets/uploadSllyabus.php file, where improper validation of the File argument allows attackers to upload arbitrary files to the server. The flaw can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially allowing attackers to upload malicious scripts and gain unauthorized access to the affected system.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can upload arbitrary files including web shells, enabling complete server compromise and potential data exfiltration from school management systems containing sensitive student and staff information.

Affected Products

• Oranbyte School Management System (up to commit 6b6fae5426044f89c08d0dd101c7fa71f9042a59)
• Oranbyte School Management System version 1.0
• ProjectsAndPrograms School Management System (rolling release)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-10-13 - CVE-2025-11660 published to NVD
• 2025-10-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-11660

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper access control (CWE-284) and unrestricted upload of files with dangerous types (CWE-434) in the syllabus upload functionality. The /assets/uploadSllyabus.php endpoint fails to properly validate uploaded files, allowing attackers to bypass intended file type restrictions. This implementation flaw enables the upload of executable files such as PHP web shells, which can then be accessed directly to execute arbitrary commands on the server.

The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in educational environments where school management systems typically store sensitive personal information including student records, grades, staff details, and financial data. Successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, system compromise, and potential ransomware deployment.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of proper file validation mechanisms in the upload handler. The vulnerable endpoint /assets/uploadSllyabus.php does not implement adequate checks for:

• File extension validation against an allowlist
• MIME type verification
• File content inspection to detect executable code
• Proper access control to restrict who can upload files

This allows any remote user to upload files with arbitrary extensions and content, bypassing the intended purpose of uploading syllabus documents only.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft a malicious HTTP POST request to the vulnerable endpoint, uploading a file containing executable code disguised as a legitimate document or with a dangerous extension like .php.

The exploitation process involves uploading a malicious file to the server through the vulnerable endpoint, then accessing the uploaded file directly via its URL path to trigger code execution. Since the product uses a rolling release model, version-specific mitigation guidance is not available, making it critical to monitor the official repository for updates.

For technical details regarding the vulnerability and its exploitation, refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB entry #328077.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11660

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected files with executable extensions (.php, .phtml, .php5) in the /assets/ directory or upload directories
• Web server access logs showing POST requests to /assets/uploadSllyabus.php followed by GET requests to newly created files
• Presence of web shells or backdoor scripts in directories accessible via the web server
• Unusual outbound network connections originating from the web server process

Detection Strategies

• Implement file integrity monitoring on web-accessible directories to detect unauthorized file creation
• Monitor web server logs for suspicious upload patterns and access to newly created executable files
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to inspect file uploads for malicious content
• Use endpoint detection solutions to identify web shell activity and command execution patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on the web server to capture all file upload activities
• Implement alerting for file creation events in upload directories with executable extensions
• Monitor for anomalous process spawning from web server processes (e.g., php spawning cmd.exe or /bin/sh)
• Review access logs regularly for requests to /assets/uploadSllyabus.php from unexpected IP addresses

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11660

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to /assets/uploadSllyabus.php using web server configuration or authentication controls
• Disable the upload functionality until a patch is available if not critical to operations
• Implement network-level access controls to limit who can reach the vulnerable endpoint
• Audit the upload directories for any previously uploaded malicious files

Patch Information

As of the last update, no official patch has been released for this vulnerability. The Oranbyte School Management System uses a rolling release model, making version-specific patch information unavailable. Organizations should monitor the official repository and VulDB submission #665610 for updates regarding security fixes.

Workarounds

• Configure the web server to prevent execution of scripts in upload directories using .htaccess or equivalent server configuration
• Implement server-side file validation including extension allowlisting, MIME type checking, and content inspection
• Rename uploaded files to remove executable extensions and store them outside the web root
• Apply network segmentation to isolate the school management system from critical infrastructure

# Apache configuration to prevent script execution in uploads directory
# Add to .htaccess in /assets/ directory or Apache configuration
<Directory "/var/www/html/assets">
    php_admin_flag engine Off
    Options -ExecCGI
    RemoveHandler .php .phtml .php5 .php7 .phps
    AddType text/plain .php .phtml .php5 .php7 .phps
</Directory>