CVE-2026-9526 Overview
CVE-2026-9526 is a SQL injection vulnerability in itsourcecode Electronic Judging System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /admin/edit_team.php script, where the num_id parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers can manipulate this parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit details have been disclosed publicly, lowering the barrier for opportunistic attackers. The weakness is tracked under [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can inject SQL queries through the num_id parameter in /admin/edit_team.php, potentially exposing or modifying tournament, judge, and team data stored in the backend database.
Affected Products
- itsourcecode Electronic Judging System 1.0
- The vulnerable component is the /admin/edit_team.php administrative endpoint
- The num_id request parameter is the injection point
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-26 - CVE-2026-9526 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-05-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-9526
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the administrative team editing functionality of the Electronic Judging System. When a request reaches /admin/edit_team.php, the application uses the num_id parameter directly within a SQL statement. Because no parameterized queries or input validation are applied, attacker-controlled input becomes part of the query syntax. An attacker can append boolean logic, UNION-based selects, or time-based payloads to extract data or alter records. Public disclosure of the issue increases the likelihood of automated scanning and exploitation by low-skill actors.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements passed to a downstream SQL interpreter [CWE-74]. The num_id parameter, expected to be a numeric identifier, is concatenated into the query string without type enforcement or prepared statements. Any attacker who can reach the admin endpoint can therefore alter the structure of the executed query.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /admin/edit_team.php with a malicious num_id value. Typical payloads include UNION-based extraction queries, error-based payloads to reveal schema information, and time-based blind variants such as appending AND SLEEP(5). Because the endpoint sits under /admin/, successful exploitation may also expose administrative data including credentials, scoring records, and team rosters. Refer to the GitHub Issue Tracker and VulDB Vulnerability #365545 for technical disclosure details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-9526
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to /admin/edit_team.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', ", --, ;, or keywords like UNION, SELECT, SLEEP in the num_id parameter.
- Web server logs showing non-numeric values supplied to a parameter expected to be an integer.
- Database error messages or unusually long response times correlated with requests to the admin endpoint.
- Unexpected outbound queries or data exports from the application's database server.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL injection signatures targeting num_id and other admin parameters.
- Enable verbose access logging on the web server and alert on requests to /admin/edit_team.php from unauthenticated sessions.
- Use database activity monitoring to detect anomalous queries originating from the application service account.
- Correlate web and database telemetry in a SIEM to identify multi-stage probing behavior.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Continuously monitor admin path access frequency and source IP diversity for scanning patterns.
- Track HTTP 500 spikes and slow responses on /admin/edit_team.php as potential blind SQLi indicators.
- Retain web, application, and database logs for forensic review of any suspected exploitation attempts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-9526
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allowlisting or VPN-only access until a patch is available.
- Place the application behind a WAF with SQL injection rules tuned for the num_id parameter.
- Audit the database for unauthorized modifications to team, judge, and scoring tables.
- Rotate database credentials and admin account passwords if exploitation is suspected.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no official vendor patch has been referenced in the NVD entry. Administrators should monitor the itsourcecode website and the GitHub Issue Tracker for remediation updates. Until a fix is published, code maintainers should refactor /admin/edit_team.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters and enforce integer casting on num_id.
Workarounds
- Add server-side input validation to reject any non-integer value supplied to num_id before it reaches the SQL layer.
- Apply least-privilege permissions to the database account used by the application to limit the impact of injected queries.
- Disable or remove the vulnerable administrative endpoint if it is not actively used in the deployment.
- Enable database query logging to support rapid investigation of any suspicious activity.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
