CVE-2026-86209 Overview
CVE-2026-86209 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /delete_user.php script, where the ID parameter is passed directly into a SQL query without sanitization. Remote attackers can manipulate this argument to inject arbitrary SQL statements. No authentication or user interaction is required to trigger the flaw. Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed installations. The weakness is classified under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can inject SQL through the ID parameter of /delete_user.php, potentially leading to database record manipulation, disclosure, or deletion.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0
- /delete_user.php endpoint
- Deployments exposing the application over HTTP/HTTPS
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-06 - CVE-2026-86209 published to NVD
- 2026-09-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-86209
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability affects the user deletion workflow in SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0. The /delete_user.php script accepts an ID value from a request parameter and concatenates it directly into a backend SQL statement. Because the application does not validate or parameterize this input, attackers can append arbitrary SQL clauses. Successful exploitation can disclose database contents, alter records, or remove data used by the timetabling system. The attack originates over the network and requires no privileges or user interaction. Public disclosure of exploitation details lowers the barrier for adversaries to weaponize the flaw against exposed installations.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements passed to a downstream SQL interpreter [CWE-74]. The ID parameter reaches the SQL layer without prepared statements or input filtering, allowing SQL syntax injected by the attacker to be parsed and executed by the database engine.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /delete_user.php with a malicious ID value. The server-side code appends the attacker-supplied string to a SQL query, executing the injected payload against the backing database. Because the vulnerability sits on an unauthenticated endpoint reachable over the network, exploitation can be automated at scale.
No verified exploit code is reproduced here. Technical details are tracked in the GitHub Issue for CVE-2026-86209 and the VulDB CVE-2026-86209 entry.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-86209
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to /delete_user.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, or comment sequences (--, #) in the ID parameter.
- Web server or database logs showing malformed SQL errors originating from delete_user.php.
- Unexpected user record deletions, modifications, or enumeration activity within the application database.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) signatures that inspect the ID parameter of /delete_user.php for SQL injection patterns.
- Correlate database error events with the source HTTP requests to identify probing activity against the endpoint.
- Baseline normal query patterns issued by the timetabling application and alert on anomalous SQL syntax or high-volume DELETE/UNION operations.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose access logging on the web server hosting the application and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform.
- Monitor authentication and administrative tables for unauthorized changes that could indicate post-exploitation activity.
- Track outbound connections from the database host that may signal data exfiltration following successful injection.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-86209
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network exposure of the timetabling application by placing it behind authenticated access controls or a VPN until a fix is available.
- Deploy WAF rules that block SQL injection payloads targeting the ID parameter of /delete_user.php.
- Audit the application database for signs of unauthorized queries, deletions, or schema enumeration.
Patch Information
No vendor patch has been published in the enriched CVE data for SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0. Monitor the SourceCodester project site and the VulDB entry for CVE-2026-86209 for updates. Until a fix is released, organizations should apply code-level remediation by refactoring delete_user.php to use parameterized queries or prepared statements and by validating that the ID parameter is a positive integer before use.
Workarounds
- Modify /delete_user.php to cast the ID parameter to an integer (for example, using intval() in PHP) before including it in any SQL statement.
- Replace string concatenation with prepared statements using PDO or MySQLi parameter binding.
- Enforce least-privilege database accounts so the application user cannot execute destructive operations beyond its intended scope.
- Disable or remove the vulnerable endpoint if the user-deletion feature is not required in production.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
