CVE-2026-11486: SQL Injection in SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0

Technical summary

CVE-2026-11486 is a remote SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89, CWE-74) affecting SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0. The vulnerability exists in /archive1.php where the 'sy' parameter is passed directly into SQL queries without parameterization or input validation. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 (HIGH) reflects network-based attack feasibility, no authentication requirement, and impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability was published June 8, 2026, and public exploit code is now available.

Business impact

Organizations deploying SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System 1.0 face direct risk of unauthorized database access. An attacker could extract sensitive student and faculty records, tamper with exam schedules or grades, or render the system unavailable. For educational institutions relying on this system for scheduling and record-keeping, compromise could disrupt operations and trigger regulatory compliance issues regarding student data protection.

Affected systems

SourceCodester Class and Exam Timetabling System version 1.0 is affected. Administrators should verify whether this product is deployed in their environment, particularly in on-premises or self-hosted instances. The vulnerability requires network access to the affected application but no prior authentication.

Exploitability

Exploitability is high. The attack vector is network-based, requires no user interaction, and no credentials. The flaw is in a web-accessible file (/archive1.php) with a straightforward parameter manipulation vector (the 'sy' argument). Public exploit code availability accelerates the timeline to weaponization; organizations should assume active reconnaissance and exploitation attempts are underway or imminent.

Remediation

Immediate action is required. Organizations must either apply a security patch from SourceCodester (verify availability and version numbers directly from the vendor advisory) or implement temporary mitigations such as web application firewall (WAF) rules to block SQL injection payloads in the 'sy' parameter, restrict network access to /archive1.php, or disable the application pending patching. Full remediation requires upgrading to a patched version once available from the vendor.

Patch guidance

Contact SourceCodester directly or consult their official security advisory for patch availability and version numbers—do not assume a patch exists until confirmed. If a patch is available, test it in a non-production environment before deploying. If no patch is available, prioritize implementing WAF rules and network access controls. For long-term use of this application, consider whether the vendor's security responsiveness meets your organization's risk tolerance.

Detection guidance

Monitor web server logs and WAF logs for HTTP requests to /archive1.php containing SQL metacharacters (quotes, semicolons, union keywords, comment symbols) in the 'sy' parameter. Look for patterns like ' OR '1'='1, UNION SELECT, or -- comments. Enable database query logging to detect unusual SQL activity. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools should flag attempts to exfiltrate large volumes of data or modify critical database records. Review database access logs for unexpected query patterns or data exports.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits immediate prioritization (P1/Critical patch queue) due to: (1) public exploit availability eliminating barrier to exploitation, (2) unauthenticated remote attack vector, (3) direct impact to data confidentiality and integrity, (4) educational/institutional context where student records are sensitive, and (5) HIGH CVSS severity. The combination of ease of exploitation and public tooling means exploitation likelihood is already elevated.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 (HIGH) accounts for network accessibility (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privilege requirement (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impact to all three security objectives (confidentiality, integrity, availability). While not rated CRITICAL, the addition of publicly available exploit code elevates practical risk beyond the base score and should trigger emergency patching workflows.

Frequently asked questions