CVE-2026-86275 in Syllabus-Aligned Learning Management & Examination System
Summary
by MITRE • 09/07/2026
A vulnerability was detected in SourceCodester Syllabus-Aligned Learning Management & Examination System 1.0. This vulnerability affects the function register of the file auth.php. Performing a manipulation of the argument role results in improper privilege management. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. The exploit is now public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2026
The SourceCodester Syllabus-Aligned Learning Management & Examination System version 1.0 contains a critical security flaw within its authentication module, specifically located in the register function of the auth.php file. This vulnerability stems from an improper implementation of access control mechanisms during user account creation. The system fails to adequately validate or sanitize the role parameter provided by the client application when registering new users. In typical web applications, this field should be either ignored and defaulted to a standard low-privilege role such as student or guest, or it must undergo strict server-side validation against an allowlist of permissible roles. Instead, the software directly accepts the value submitted in the HTTP request without sufficient verification, allowing attackers to manipulate their assigned privileges during the registration process itself.
This flaw is classified under CWE-269, which denotes Improper Privilege Management. The core issue lies in the application's failure to enforce a clear separation of duties and ensure that users can only perform actions authorized for their designated role level. By manipulating the role argument, an attacker can bypass standard access controls and elevate their account privileges from a basic user level to an administrative or instructor level. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs at the point of entry, meaning no prior authentication is required to exploit it initially. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, as the attacker creates a legitimate-looking account that possesses elevated permissions from inception, effectively bypassing traditional perimeter defenses and identity verification processes designed for standard users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its remote exploitability and public availability. Since the flaw allows privilege escalation without prior authentication, any individual on the internet can register an administrative account if they know or guess the application's registration endpoint. Once exploited, the attacker gains full control over the learning management system. This includes the ability to view, modify, or delete sensitive student records, exam questions, and grades. Furthermore, administrators typically have access to user management features, allowing them to create additional backdoor accounts, reset passwords for other users, or potentially execute server-side commands if further vulnerabilities exist in administrative functions. The public availability of exploits significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors, increasing the likelihood of automated attacks targeting instances of this software that are exposed to the internet.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation and defensive configuration changes. The most effective solution is to apply a patch from the vendor if available, which should enforce strict server-side validation of the role parameter during registration. If no official patch exists, administrators should implement input validation logic within the auth.php file or via an application firewall rule that rejects any request attempting to set the role field to values other than those explicitly allowed for new registrations. Additionally, it is crucial to restrict access to the registration endpoint if public sign-ups are not required by disabling the feature entirely in production environments. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar logic flaws in other parts of the application where privilege levels might be manipulated through parameter tampering or IDOR attacks.