CVE-2025-26199: CloudClassroom-PHP Credential Disclosure

CVE-2025-26199 Overview

CVE-2025-26199 is an insecure credential transmission vulnerability affecting CloudClassroom-PHP-Project v1.0. The application transmits user passwords over unencrypted HTTP during the login process, exposing sensitive credentials to potential interception by network-based attackers. This cleartext transmission of credentials (CWE-319) represents a fundamental security flaw that violates secure communication best practices.

A remote attacker with access to the same network segment—such as public Wi-Fi hotspots, compromised routers, or enterprise networks with inadequate segmentation—can capture login credentials using Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) techniques. If the attacker subsequently leverages the captured credentials to authenticate and exploit administrative functions (such as file upload capabilities), this attack chain may escalate to remote code execution depending on the target environment configuration.

Critical Impact

Cleartext credential transmission enables complete account takeover through network interception, potentially leading to administrative access compromise and remote code execution when chained with other vulnerabilities.

Affected Products

• CloudClassroom-PHP-Project v1.0 by vishalmathur
• Vishalmathur Cloudclassroom-php Project 1.0
• All deployments using HTTP (non-TLS) communication

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-06-18 - CVE-2025-26199 published to NVD
• 2025-07-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-26199

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information). The CloudClassroom-PHP-Project application fails to implement HTTPS/TLS encryption for its authentication endpoints, resulting in user credentials being transmitted in plaintext across the network.

The attack surface is particularly concerning for educational environments where this classroom management software is likely deployed. Students and staff connecting over shared wireless networks are especially vulnerable, as attackers on the same network segment can passively capture credentials without active exploitation.

The critical nature of this vulnerability stems from its potential for attack chaining. Once credentials are intercepted, attackers gaining administrative access may leverage other application features—particularly file upload functionality—to achieve remote code execution, effectively compromising the entire server.

Root Cause

The root cause is the application's failure to enforce encrypted communication channels for authentication workflows. The login form submits credentials via standard HTTP POST requests without TLS encryption, leaving the username and password fields exposed in network traffic. This architectural oversight bypasses fundamental transport layer security requirements.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction to execute. An attacker positioned on the same network segment as the victim can employ passive network sniffing or active MitM techniques to intercept authentication requests.

The exploitation workflow proceeds as follows: the attacker first establishes network presence through methods such as ARP spoofing, rogue access point deployment, or compromised network infrastructure. When a legitimate user authenticates to the CloudClassroom application, their credentials traverse the network in cleartext. The attacker captures these credentials using standard packet analysis tools, then replays them to gain unauthorized access to the victim's account. If the compromised account has administrative privileges, the attacker may further exploit application functionality to achieve code execution.

For detailed technical information, refer to the GitHub CVE-2025-26199 Repository and the GitHub Gist Exploit Information.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26199

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP POST requests containing username and password parameters in cleartext to CloudClassroom login endpoints
• Unusual login activity from IP addresses inconsistent with legitimate user locations
• Multiple authentication attempts from different geographic regions for the same user account
• Network traffic showing credential submission over port 80 instead of port 443

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for unencrypted HTTP authentication requests to application login endpoints
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to alert on cleartext credential patterns in HTTP payloads
• Deploy SSL/TLS inspection to identify applications communicating sensitive data without encryption
• Review web server access logs for login endpoint requests originating from unexpected IP addresses

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable logging for all authentication events including source IP, timestamp, and success/failure status
• Configure SIEM alerts for credential submission over unencrypted channels
• Monitor for ARP spoofing or other MitM indicators on network segments hosting the application
• Implement user behavior analytics to detect anomalous login patterns following potential credential theft

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26199

Immediate Actions Required

• Deploy the application behind a reverse proxy (nginx, Apache) configured with HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Implement HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) headers to prevent protocol downgrade attacks
• Review application logs for evidence of unauthorized access or credential compromise
• Force password resets for all users, particularly administrative accounts
• Restrict network access to the application to trusted network segments only

Patch Information

No official patch is currently available from the vendor. Organizations should implement the workarounds listed below until the vendor releases an updated version with native HTTPS support. Monitor the GitHub repository for updates regarding vendor response.

Workarounds

• Configure a TLS-terminating reverse proxy in front of the application to encrypt all client-server communication
• Deploy the application on a private network segment with VPN access requirements
• Implement network-level controls to prevent unauthorized devices from accessing the application subnet
• Consider migrating to an alternative classroom management solution with built-in transport encryption

# Example nginx reverse proxy configuration with TLS
server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name classroom.example.com;
    
    ssl_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/classroom.crt;
    ssl_certificate_key /etc/ssl/private/classroom.key;
    ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
    ssl_ciphers ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256;
    
    add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains" always;
    
    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8080;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}

# Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
server {
    listen 80;
    server_name classroom.example.com;
    return 301 https://$server_name$request_uri;
}