CVE-2026-95925 Overview
CVE-2026-95925 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Reviewer Management System 1.0. The flaw resides in /reviewer_0/admins/assessments/databank/btn_functions.php when handling the action=update request. Attackers can manipulate the difficulty_id parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable and requires no authentication or user interaction. Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks against exposed instances. 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 statements through the difficulty_id parameter, potentially exposing or modifying database records in the reviewer management system.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Online Reviewer Management System 1.0
- Vulnerable component: /reviewer_0/admins/assessments/databank/btn_functions.php
- Vulnerable parameter: difficulty_id in the action=update handler
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-23 - CVE-2026-95925 published to NVD
- 2026-09-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-95925
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the administrative databank endpoint of the Online Reviewer Management System. When the endpoint processes the action=update request, it accepts the difficulty_id parameter and passes it into a database query without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and append or modify SQL statements. Because the endpoint is reachable over the network without authentication, an attacker only needs HTTP access to the application to trigger the flaw. Public disclosure of the exploit lowers the barrier to exploitation and enables automated scanning tools to weaponize the issue quickly.
Root Cause
The root cause is unsanitized concatenation of user-controlled input into a SQL query. The difficulty_id value provided in the request is placed directly into the query string executed by the backend. The application does not use prepared statements or parameterized queries, and it does not enforce type validation on the numeric identifier. This design flaw maps to [CWE-74] and specifically the injection subclass covering SQL.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to /reviewer_0/admins/assessments/databank/btn_functions.php?action=update with a malicious difficulty_id payload. The payload can include SQL operators, UNION selects, or boolean-based conditions that alter the intended query logic. Successful exploitation can result in disclosure of database contents, tampering with assessment or user records, or manipulation of authentication data stored in the database. No prior credentials are required, and the attack works remotely over standard HTTP or HTTPS.
No verified proof-of-concept code is included here. Technical details are available through the GitHub issue tracker and the VulDB entry for CVE-2026-95925.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-95925
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to /reviewer_0/admins/assessments/databank/btn_functions.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION, SELECT, --, or %27 in the difficulty_id parameter.
- Unexpected database errors, long response times, or anomalous result sizes returned by the action=update endpoint.
- Repeated administrative endpoint access from unauthenticated or unusual source addresses.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the difficulty_id parameter for SQL injection patterns and known payload signatures.
- Enable database query logging and alert on syntactically unusual queries originating from the reviewer application.
- Correlate web server access logs with database audit logs to identify parameter-tampering attempts.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor administrative paths under /reviewer_0/admins/ for anonymous access and geographic anomalies.
- Track error rates on btn_functions.php requests as sudden spikes often indicate injection probing.
- Alert on outbound data transfers from the database host that deviate from historical baselines.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-95925
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the /reviewer_0/admins/ directory using network controls, authentication proxies, or IP allowlists until a fix is applied.
- Deploy WAF rules that block SQL injection payloads targeting the difficulty_id parameter.
- Review database and application logs for prior exploitation attempts and rotate credentials stored within the affected database.
Patch Information
No official vendor patch is listed in the CVE record at the time of publication. Administrators should monitor the SourceCodester project page and the VulDB advisory for updates. Until a patch is available, rewrite the vulnerable query to use parameterized statements and enforce integer type casting on difficulty_id.
Workarounds
- Modify btn_functions.php to cast difficulty_id to an integer before use, for example using intval() in PHP, and reject non-numeric input.
- Replace inline SQL concatenation with prepared statements using PDO or MySQLi parameter binding.
- Place the application behind an authenticated reverse proxy so that unauthenticated requests cannot reach the administrative endpoint.
- Disable or remove the vulnerable endpoint if it is not required for production operations.
# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking SQLi patterns on difficulty_id
SecRule ARGS:difficulty_id "@rx (?i)(union(\s|/\*)+select|select.+from|--|;|/\*|\bor\b\s+\d+=\d+)" \
"id:1029595,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2026-95925 SQLi attempt on difficulty_id'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
