CVE-2026-86276: Syllabus LMS Hard-Coded Credentials Flaw

CVE-2026-86276 Overview

CVE-2026-86276 is a hard-coded credentials weakness [CWE-259] in the SourceCodester Syllabus-Aligned Learning Management & Examination System version 1.0. The flaw resides in the db.php file, which stores database authentication material directly in source code. Remote attackers can leverage the embedded credentials to access the backing database without authentication challenges. Public exploit details have been released, increasing the risk that opportunistic actors will incorporate the technique into automated scanning.

Critical Impact

Attackers who obtain the source or reach the exposed configuration file can authenticate to the application database and read, modify, or destroy student and examination records.

Affected Products

• SourceCodester Syllabus-Aligned Learning Management & Examination System 1.0
• Deployments that reuse the shipped db.php configuration file
• Forks and derivative projects that inherit the same credential defaults

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-09-07 - CVE-2026-86276 published to NVD
• 2026-09-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-86276

Vulnerability Analysis

The application ships with database connection parameters embedded directly in db.php. Any user who reads the source, obtains the file from a misconfigured server, or examines the public repository recovers the credentials. Because the same values are reused across installations, one disclosure compromises many deployments simultaneously. The advisory also links the finding to SQL injection surface reachable through the same database context, amplifying downstream impact on data confidentiality and integrity. Exploitation occurs remotely over the network and requires no user interaction. See the GitHub SQL Injection Report for the disclosed technical write-up.

Root Cause

The root cause is the use of hard-coded credentials [CWE-259] inside db.php. Developers placed the database username and password in a versioned source file rather than reading them from an external secret store or environment configuration. This pattern removes any per-install credential rotation and makes secure deployment dependent on operator awareness rather than the software itself.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated remote attacker who discovers or downloads the credential file can connect directly to the database service if it is reachable, or reuse the values against the web application to escalate access. The exploit has been published on the VulDB entry for CVE-2026-86276, lowering the skill barrier for reuse. No verified proof-of-concept code is included here; refer to the linked advisory for exploitation specifics.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-86276

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected database logins originating from external IP addresses using the default account shipped with the application.
• Anomalous SELECT, UPDATE, or DROP activity against learning management tables outside normal administrative windows.
• Web server access logs showing requests that enumerate db.php or backup variants such as db.php.bak and db.php~.

Detection Strategies

• Inventory web-accessible PHP files and flag any deployment of the Syllabus-Aligned Learning Management & Examination System 1.0 codebase.
• Compare deployed db.php contents against the upstream file hash to detect unchanged default credentials.
• Correlate database authentication logs with application audit trails to identify sessions that bypass the web login flow.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable database query logging and alert on repeated failed or successful logins from non-application hosts.
• Monitor outbound traffic from the application server to detect data staging or exfiltration following credential abuse.
• Track file integrity on db.php and adjacent configuration files, alerting on read access from unexpected user contexts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-86276

Immediate Actions Required

• Rotate the database account referenced in db.php and remove the shipped default from every environment.
• Restrict database network exposure so only the application host can reach the database service.
• Place the application behind authentication and disable directory listing to prevent retrieval of PHP source or backup files.

Patch Information

No vendor patch is referenced in the advisory sources at the time of publication. Operators should treat the current 1.0 release as vulnerable and follow the workarounds below until SourceCodester issues an update. Track the VulDB record for CVE-2026-86276 for future fix availability.

Workarounds

• Move database credentials out of source code and load them from environment variables or a secrets manager at runtime.
• Enforce database-level access control so the application account holds only the privileges required for normal operation.
• Add web server rules that deny direct HTTP access to .php include files and to any backup extensions.

# Configuration example
# Refer to the vendor advisory and referenced GitHub report for authoritative remediation guidance.