CVE-2026-5576: Record Management System 1.0 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-5576 Overview

A critical unrestricted file upload vulnerability has been discovered in SourceCodester/jkev Record Management System version 1.0. The flaw exists in the save_emp.php file within the Add Employee Page component, allowing attackers to upload arbitrary files without proper validation. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network to achieve remote code execution on affected systems.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers with high-level privileges can exploit this unrestricted file upload vulnerability to upload malicious files, potentially leading to remote code execution and complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• SourceCodester/jkev Record Management System 1.0
• Add Employee Page component (save_emp.php)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-05 - CVE-2026-5576 published to NVD
• 2026-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-5576

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), specifically manifesting as an unrestricted file upload flaw. The save_emp.php script in the Add Employee Page component fails to properly validate and restrict the types of files that can be uploaded through the employee creation functionality.

The vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges to bypass file upload restrictions and upload arbitrary files to the server. While exploitation requires high-level privileges, the network-accessible nature of the vulnerability makes it exploitable remotely. The impact includes potential compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper access control and missing input validation within the file upload functionality of save_emp.php. The application fails to implement proper file type validation, extension whitelisting, or content-type verification, allowing arbitrary file uploads including executable scripts.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2026-5576 is network-based, requiring authenticated access with high-level privileges. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by:

1. Authenticating to the Record Management System with administrative credentials
2. Navigating to the Add Employee Page functionality
3. Uploading a malicious file (such as a PHP web shell) through the employee creation form
4. Accessing the uploaded file directly via the web server to execute arbitrary code

The vulnerability mechanism involves the save_emp.php endpoint failing to properly validate uploaded files. When an employee record is created, the application accepts file attachments without checking the file extension, MIME type, or file content. This allows an attacker to upload executable scripts disguised as legitimate documents. Once uploaded, these malicious files can be accessed directly through the web server, enabling remote code execution. For detailed technical information, refer to the GitHub CVE Documentation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-5576

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual file uploads to the employee data directories with executable extensions (.php, .phtml, .php5)
• Web server logs showing direct access to newly uploaded files in unexpected locations
• Unexpected PHP or script files appearing in upload directories
• Anomalous outbound network connections from the web server process

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system changes in web application upload directories for executable file types
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect file upload attempts with suspicious extensions
• Review web server access logs for requests to upload directories containing executable files
• Deploy endpoint detection to identify web shell indicators and suspicious process spawning from web server contexts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on the Record Management System application
• Configure file integrity monitoring on upload directories
• Set up alerts for new executable files created in web-accessible directories
• Monitor process creation events from web server processes for anomalous child processes

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-5576

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the Add Employee Page to only trusted administrators
• Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure of the vulnerable application
• Review uploaded files for any existing malicious content
• Consider taking the application offline until a patch is available or workarounds are implemented

Patch Information

No official vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. System administrators should monitor the VulDB Vulnerability Entry #355346 and the GitHub CVE Documentation for updates on remediation options.

Workarounds

• Implement server-side file upload validation to whitelist only allowed file extensions (e.g., .jpg, .png, .pdf)
• Configure the web server to prevent execution of scripts in upload directories
• Add content-type validation to verify uploaded files match expected MIME types
• Store uploaded files outside of the web root or in directories with disabled script execution

# Apache configuration to disable script execution in upload directory
<Directory "/var/www/html/uploads">
    php_admin_flag engine off
    Options -ExecCGI
    RemoveHandler .php .phtml .php5 .php7
    AddType text/plain .php .phtml .php5 .php7
</Directory>