CVE-2026-116603 in Online Food Ordering System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2026
A flaw has been found in SourceCodester Online Food Ordering System 1.0. Impacted is an unknown function of the file admin/add_food.php. Executing a manipulation of the argument image can lead to unrestricted upload. The attack may be performed from remote. The exploit has been published and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The SourceCodester Online Food Ordering System version 1.0 contains a critical security vulnerability within its administrative interface, specifically located in the admin/add_food.php file. This flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input when handling image uploads for food items. The system fails to adequately verify the integrity and type of files being uploaded through the image argument parameter. As a result, an attacker can manipulate this input to bypass existing security controls that are intended to restrict file types or sizes. This lack of rigorous server-side validation allows malicious actors to upload arbitrary executable scripts disguised as legitimate image files, leading to unrestricted file uploads on the targeted web server.
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-434, which describes an unrestricted upload of a file with dangerous content. The core technical issue lies in the application's failure to enforce strict allowlists for permitted file extensions or MIME types during the ingestion process. By exploiting this weakness, an attacker can bypass client-side checks and potentially server-side filters that may be easily circumvented through techniques such as double extension manipulation or null byte injection depending on the specific implementation details of the PHP environment. The ability to upload arbitrary files represents a severe compromise of system integrity because it provides a direct pathway for code execution if the uploaded file is subsequently accessed by the web server and interpreted correctly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it enables remote attackers to achieve Remote Code Execution on the affected system without requiring prior authentication in some configurations or with minimal privileges if they can access the administrative upload functionality. Once a malicious script such as a PHP shell is uploaded and executed, the attacker gains full control over the underlying operating system. This level of access allows for data exfiltration, modification of application logic, installation of backdoors, and lateral movement within the network infrastructure hosting the web service. The presence of published exploits further lowers the barrier to entry for threat actors, increasing the likelihood of automated attacks targeting systems running this specific version of the software.
From a tactical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003, which involves Server Side Request Forgery or Web Shell components, specifically focusing on web shell deployment via file upload mechanisms. The attack vector is classified as Remote (Network) and requires low complexity to execute successfully given the availability of proof-of-concept code in public repositories. Security teams should treat this as a high-severity issue requiring immediate remediation due to the direct path it provides from an external network connection to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing robust server-side validation for all file uploads. Developers should enforce strict allowlists that define only specific, safe image formats such as JPEG or PNG based on both MIME type verification and magic number inspection rather than relying solely on file extensions. Additionally, uploaded files should be stored in a directory outside of the web root to prevent direct execution by the web server. If storage within the web root is necessary for functionality, execute permissions must be explicitly disabled on that directory using server configuration directives such as Apache's Options directive or Nginx location blocks. Implementing Content Security Policy headers and utilizing dedicated file upload libraries with built-in security features can further reduce the attack surface associated with this type of vulnerability.