CVE-2025-10481 is a medium-severity SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the SourceCodester Online Student File Management System. The vulnerability resides in the /remove_file.php script, specifically in the handling of the 'ID' parameter. Improper sanitization or validation of this parameter allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code remotely without requiring user interaction or authentication. Exploiting this flaw could enable attackers to manipulate the underlying database, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L, indicating low privileges but some required), and no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (VC:L, VI:L, VA:L), suggesting partial compromise of these security properties. Although no public exploits have been observed in the wild yet, the vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of exploitation. The lack of available patches or mitigations from the vendor at this time further elevates the threat. Given the nature of the product—an online student file management system—compromise could expose sensitive student records and academic files, potentially violating data protection regulations and damaging institutional reputation.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions using the affected SourceCodester system, this vulnerability poses significant risks. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to student data, including personal information and academic records, violating GDPR and other data protection laws. Data integrity could be compromised, resulting in altered or deleted records, which may disrupt academic operations and trustworthiness. Availability impacts could affect access to critical student files, hampering administrative and educational processes. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate ease of exploitation and impact, but the sensitivity of educational data elevates the practical consequences. Additionally, the public disclosure without available patches increases the urgency for European institutions to assess exposure and implement mitigations. The reputational damage and potential regulatory penalties from data breaches in the education sector in Europe could be substantial.

1. Immediate assessment of all deployed instances of SourceCodester Online Student File Management System version 1.0 to identify exposure to the vulnerable /remove_file.php endpoint. 2. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting SQL injection patterns on the 'ID' parameter to block malicious payloads as a temporary protective measure. 3. Apply input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements in the source code to eliminate SQL injection vectors; if source code modification is not feasible, consider isolating or disabling the vulnerable functionality until a patch is available. 4. Monitor logs for unusual database queries or failed attempts to access /remove_file.php with suspicious parameters. 5. Restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint by IP whitelisting or VPN access where possible to limit exposure. 6. Engage with the vendor or community to obtain or develop patches and plan for prompt deployment once available. 7. Conduct security awareness training for administrators to recognize and respond to exploitation attempts. 8. Regularly back up critical data and verify backup integrity to enable recovery in case of data tampering or loss.