CVE-2026-14705: SQL Injection in code-projects Online Examination 1.0 – Remote Unauthenticated Attack

Technical summary

CVE-2026-14705 is a remote SQL injection flaw in Online Examination 1.0 affecting the head.php endpoint. Improper input validation on the uname and password parameters enables SQL command injection without requiring authentication (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability maps to CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output) and CWE-89 (SQL Injection), reflecting both the injection vector and the underlying lack of parameterized queries or prepared statements. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 (HIGH) reflects low complexity attack surface (AC:L) with network-level accessibility (AV:N) and moderate confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Business impact

Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass authentication, extract user credentials and personal information from the examination database, alter test scores or administrative records, or delete data entirely. If this system stores personally identifiable information (PII) related to students or staff, a breach may trigger regulatory compliance obligations. Service disruption through malicious queries could interrupt legitimate examination workflows, harming institutional operations and student assessments.

Affected systems

code-projects Online Examination version 1.0 is the confirmed affected product. Organizations running this application in production environments—particularly educational institutions hosting online exams—should inventory instances immediately. The vulnerability affects all deployments regardless of network segmentation, as it requires only network access to the web application.

Exploitability

This vulnerability presents a moderate-to-high exploitation risk. The attack requires no authentication, no special privileges, and no user interaction; a remote attacker can craft malicious SQL payloads directly in HTTP requests to the head.php endpoint. Public disclosure means exploitation details are likely available in security forums or proof-of-concept repositories. However, actual exploitation success depends on database configuration, error verbosity (which may aid payload tuning), and any Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules already in place. Active scanning tools can detect the flaw via parameter fuzzing.

Remediation

Immediate action is required. Contact code-projects for an updated version that implements parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database operations. If a patch is not immediately available, implement input validation and output encoding, deploy a WAF rule set to block common SQL injection patterns, and consider restricting network access to head.php via firewall rules or IP whitelisting. In parallel, conduct a database audit to detect any unauthorized access or data exfiltration since the vulnerability publication date.

Patch guidance

Verify the availability of a patched version from the code-projects project repository or vendor advisory. Apply patches to all instances of Online Examination 1.0 in your environment, starting with internet-facing or high-traffic deployments. Test patches in a staging environment before production rollout to ensure compatibility with existing examination data and integrations. If no vendor patch is available within 30 days, escalate to management and consider alternative examination platforms.

Detection guidance

Monitor web server and application logs for suspicious patterns in head.php requests, including URL-encoded SQL keywords (SELECT, UNION, OR, --), multiple single quotes, or unusual parameter lengths in uname/password fields. Deploy network IDS/IPS signatures to detect SQL injection traffic. Query database audit logs for unexpected queries, authentication failures, or data access patterns from system accounts. Conduct a forensic review of access logs from the vulnerability disclosure date (2026-07-05) onward to identify potential exploitation attempts.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits urgent remediation due to the combination of unauthenticated remote access, low attack complexity, public disclosure, and direct impact on confidentiality and integrity of examination records. Educational and organizational systems relying on this platform face immediate risk of credential compromise and data breach. The 7.3 CVSS score and absence from the KEV catalog (as of the current advisory date) does not diminish urgency; rapid patching is essential before widespread exploitation occurs.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 reflects a HIGH-severity vulnerability: network-accessible (AV:N), easily exploitable without authentication or user interaction (AC:L, PR:N, UI:N), with partial impact to confidentiality and integrity and limited availability impact. The score does not include organizational factors such as data sensitivity or deployment context; a system storing student PII warrants higher internal risk ratings and faster remediation timelines than the base score alone suggests.

Frequently asked questions