CVE-2021-25210
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to upload arbitrary files to the Alumni Management System, which can lead to remote code execution. It affects SourceCodester Alumni Management System version 1.0. Attackers can exploit this to take full control of affected systems.
💻 Affected Systems
- SourceCodester Alumni Management System
📦 What is this software?
Alumni Management System by Alumni Management System Project
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining full administrative access, data theft, and potential lateral movement to other systems.
Likely Case
Webshell deployment leading to data exfiltration, defacement, or use as a foothold for further attacks.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper file upload validation and web application firewalls in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires only web access to the vulnerable endpoint with a malicious file upload.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: Not available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
No official patch available. Consider replacing with alternative software or implementing workarounds.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Implement File Upload Validation
allAdd server-side validation to restrict file uploads to allowed extensions and types.
Modify manage_event.php to validate file extensions, MIME types, and content.
Web Application Firewall Rules
allConfigure WAF to block malicious file uploads to manage_event.php.
Add WAF rule: Block requests to manage_event.php with file uploads containing executable extensions.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable file upload functionality in manage_event.php entirely.
- Restrict access to manage_event.php using IP whitelisting or authentication.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Attempt to upload a file with executable extension (e.g., .php, .jsp) to manage_event.php endpoint.Check Version:
Check system documentation or configuration files for version information.Verify Fix Applied:
Test that file uploads with executable extensions are rejected with proper validation.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file uploads to manage_event.php
- Files with executable extensions in upload directories
Network Indicators:
- POST requests to manage_event.php with file uploads
- Unexpected outbound connections from web server
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND uri="/manage_event.php" AND method="POST" AND file_extension IN ("php", "jsp", "asp")