CVE-2026-11471 Overview
CVE-2026-11471 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /index2.php file, where the Password parameter is passed unsanitized into a database query. Attackers can manipulate this argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network and requires no authentication or user interaction. Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic abuse against exposed instances. The weakness is categorized under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).
Critical Impact
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can inject SQL through the Password parameter of /index2.php, exposing credentials and stored timetable data.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0
- /index2.php authentication endpoint
- Deployments using the unpatched upstream codebase
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-08 - CVE-2026-11471 published to NVD
- 2026-06-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-11471
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the login handler exposed through /index2.php. The application accepts a Password parameter from the client and concatenates it directly into a SQL statement without parameterization or sanitization. An attacker can supply crafted input that breaks out of the string literal and appends arbitrary SQL clauses.
Because the affected endpoint is the authentication form, exploitation can bypass login checks, enumerate database contents, and exfiltrate stored user credentials. The application runs in a typical LAMP stack, so the injected query executes with the privileges of the web application database user.
Public disclosure of the exploit details lowers the technical barrier to attack. Threat actors scanning for vulnerable SourceCodester deployments can automate exploitation against the predictable URL path.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input neutralization on the Password POST parameter. The codebase builds SQL queries by string concatenation instead of using prepared statements with bound parameters. No allowlist validation or escaping function is applied before the value reaches the database driver.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and unauthenticated. An attacker sends an HTTP POST request to /index2.php with a malicious payload in the Password field. Typical payloads use boolean-based, union-based, or time-based SQL injection patterns to enumerate tables or bypass authentication. The vulnerability manifests when the database engine parses the injected clause as part of the login query. See the VulDB Vulnerability Record and GitHub Issue Discussion for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11471
Indicators of Compromise
- POST requests to /index2.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION SELECT, or SLEEP( in the Password parameter.
- Web server access logs showing repeated authentication attempts from a single source against /index2.php.
- Unexpected database errors or long query response times correlated with requests to the login endpoint.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL injection signatures targeting the Password parameter.
- Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically anomalous queries originating from the web application user.
- Correlate HTTP request logs with database error logs to identify probing attempts in real time.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor authentication endpoints for high-volume failed logins or malformed credential payloads.
- Track outbound data volume from the database host to detect potential exfiltration following injection.
- Review process and file access on the web server for signs of secondary payload deployment.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11471
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to /index2.php using IP allowlists or VPN-only access until a fix is applied.
- Place the application behind a WAF configured with SQL injection rule sets.
- Rotate database credentials and review the database user's privileges, granting only what the application requires.
Patch Information
No official vendor patch is referenced in the published advisory at the time of NVD publication. Administrators should monitor the SourceCodester Security Blog and the VulDB CVE Record for upstream updates. In the absence of a patch, code-level remediation is required: replace concatenated SQL with prepared statements using PDO or mysqli bound parameters, and apply server-side input validation on the Password field.
Workarounds
- Modify /index2.php to use parameterized queries with PDO::prepare() and bindParam() for credential lookups.
- Apply input length and character class validation on authentication parameters before they reach the data layer.
- If the system is not business-critical, take the affected instance offline until secure code changes are validated.
# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQL metacharacters in the Password field
SecRule ARGS:Password "@rx (?i)(\bunion\b|\bselect\b|--|;|'|\bsleep\s*\()" \
"id:1026011471,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,\
msg:'CVE-2026-11471 SQLi attempt on /index2.php Password parameter'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
