CVE-2026-11486: Class Timetabling System SQLi Flaw

CVE-2026-11486 Overview

CVE-2026-11486 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /archive1.php script, where the sy parameter is concatenated into a SQL query without sanitization. Remote attackers can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. Authentication is not required, and the exploit has been published. Successful exploitation allows attackers to read, modify, or delete database records used by the timetabling application. The weakness is tracked under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the application database via the sy parameter in /archive1.php.

Affected Products

SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0
Component: /archive1.php
Vulnerable parameter: sy

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-08 - CVE-2026-11486 published to NVD
2026-06-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-11486

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the /archive1.php endpoint of the Class and Exam Timetabling System. The sy HTTP request parameter is passed directly into a backend SQL query without parameterization or input validation. An attacker who supplies SQL metacharacters in the sy argument can break out of the intended query context and append arbitrary SQL clauses.

The attack requires network access to the web application but no authentication or user interaction. Because the exploit is public, opportunistic scanning and automated exploitation should be expected against exposed instances.

Impact is limited to the application database. An attacker can enumerate schema metadata, extract stored records such as user credentials and academic schedules, and potentially modify or delete data depending on the privileges granted to the database account used by the application.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of user-supplied input before inclusion in a SQL statement [CWE-74]. The sy parameter is concatenated directly into a query string rather than bound as a parameter through prepared statements. The application also lacks an input allowlist for the expected school year value.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network through a crafted HTTP GET or POST request targeting /archive1.php with a malicious value in the sy parameter. Typical payloads use UNION-based or boolean-based techniques to extract data. Tools such as sqlmap can automate exploitation of this class of flaw. For additional technical context, see the VulDB vulnerability report and the GitHub issue tracker.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11486

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /archive1.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', ", --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( in the sy parameter.
Web server logs showing unusually long sy values or URL-encoded SQL keywords (%27, %20UNION%20).
Database error messages returned in HTTP responses originating from /archive1.php.
Outbound database connections or queries generated from PHP processes outside normal application workflow.

Detection Strategies

Deploy a web application firewall rule to flag SQL injection signatures targeting the sy parameter on /archive1.php.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing tautologies such as OR 1=1 or stacked statements originating from the timetabling application.
Correlate HTTP 500 responses on /archive1.php with repeated requests from the same source IP to identify probing activity.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor web access logs for high-volume requests to /archive1.php from a single source.
Track database user activity for unexpected schema enumeration queries against information_schema.
Alert on data exfiltration patterns such as large response sizes from the /archive1.php endpoint.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11486

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to the Class and Exam Timetabling System to trusted networks until a vendor patch is available.
Place the application behind a web application firewall with SQL injection rules enabled for the sy parameter.
Rotate database and application credentials if exploitation is suspected.
Audit database logs for unauthorized SELECT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements targeting application tables.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is referenced in the NVD entry at the time of publication. Administrators should monitor the SourceCodester project page and the VulDB advisory for updates. Until a fix is released, apply the workarounds below and consider replacing the affected functionality with a parameterized query implementation.

Workarounds

Modify /archive1.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters (e.g., PDO or mysqli_prepare) instead of string concatenation.
Add server-side input validation that restricts the sy parameter to a strict numeric or date-format allowlist.
Configure the database account used by the application with least privilege, removing rights to modify schema or access unrelated tables.
Disable verbose database error messages in PHP by setting display_errors = Off in php.ini.

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking SQLi against the sy parameter
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@beginsWith /archive1.php" \
    "id:1011486,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2026-11486 SQLi attempt',\
    chain"
    SecRule ARGS:sy "@detectSQLi" "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"