Description

A vulnerability was determined in SourceCodester Online Examination & Learning Management System 1.0. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file upload_files.php. This manipulation causes unrestricted upload. The attack may be initiated remotely.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "6.3",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-06T22:16:53.773Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-06T22:16:53.773Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A critical security vulnerability has been identified within SourceCodester Online Examination & Learning Management System 1.0, specifically residing in the file processing component of upload_files.php. This security flaw pertains to an unrestricted file upload vulnerability, which exposes the underlying web server to severe risks.\nThe vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass file type validation mechanisms and upload arbitrary, potentially malicious files—such as web shells—directly to the server's file system. Successful exploitation of this flaw can lead to remote code execution, full system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive application resources.\nThe issue affects the designated file handling mechanism within version 1.0 of the software. The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring prior authentication or specific user privileges, depending on the exposure of the vulnerable endpoint.\nThe risk implication is critical, as arbitrary file uploads in web applications typically enable attackers to execute system commands within the context of the web server user. Remediation requires rigorous input sanitization, strict file extension whitelisting, and secure storage configurations that prevent direct execution of uploaded payloads.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability exists within the file upload processing logic handled by the upload_files.php script in SourceCodester Online Examination & Learning Management System 1.0. The root cause of the issue is the absence of adequate validation, sanitization, and verification mechanisms for uploaded files.\nSpecifically, the application fails to adequately restrict file types based on a strict whitelist approach, does not enforce secure file renaming strategies, and lacks proper checks on file contents or extensions. Consequently, an attacker can supply malicious payloads disguised as benign files or directly upload executable scripts.\nThe attack flow begins with network reconnaissance, where the remote attacker identifies the presence of the upload_files.php endpoint. The attacker crafts an HTTP multipart/form-data request containing a malicious payload, such as a PHP web shell, and transmits this request to the vulnerable server.\nBecause the server-side logic fails to validate the extension or MIME type against a safe whitelist, the uploaded file is written directly to a web-accessible directory on the server file system. Once the payload is successfully written, the attacker can execute it by issuing a direct HTTP GET request to the uploaded file's path.\nThe exploitation requirements are minimal: network access to the target application and the ability to interact with the upload_files.php endpoint. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring authentication or specific user privileges, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for malicious actors.\nThe post-exploitation impact includes arbitrary remote code execution on the underlying host, allowing the attacker to read, modify, or delete application data, pivot deeper into the internal network, or install persistent backdoors to maintain unauthorized access."
}