CVE-2025-13468 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability in SourceCodester Alumni Management System version 1.0, specifically within the delete handler functions (delete_forum, delete_career, delete_comment, delete_gallery, delete_event) located in admin/admin_class.php. The flaw arises because these functions do not properly verify whether the requesting user has the necessary permissions to perform deletion operations. By manipulating the ID parameter remotely, an attacker can bypass authorization controls and delete critical data such as forum posts, career records, comments, galleries, and event entries. The vulnerability requires no user interaction and no authentication, making it remotely exploitable over the network with low complexity. The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.3 (medium severity) reflects moderate impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with no privileges or user interaction needed. Although no active exploits have been reported in the wild, a public exploit is available, increasing the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of the product, which is commonly used by educational institutions and alumni organizations to manage community data. The lack of authorization checks can lead to unauthorized data deletion, causing data loss and disruption of services dependent on this system.

For European organizations, particularly universities, alumni associations, and educational institutions using SourceCodester Alumni Management System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to data integrity and availability. Unauthorized deletion of forum posts, career information, comments, galleries, or event data can disrupt community engagement and institutional record-keeping. This may lead to operational downtime, loss of trust among users, and potential regulatory compliance issues related to data protection laws such as GDPR if personal data is affected. The ease of remote exploitation without authentication increases the threat level, especially for organizations with publicly accessible admin interfaces or insufficient network segmentation. The impact extends beyond data loss to reputational damage and potential financial costs associated with recovery and incident response.

To mitigate CVE-2025-13468, organizations should immediately restrict access to the admin endpoints by implementing network-level controls such as IP whitelisting or VPN access to limit exposure. Review and harden authorization logic within the application to ensure that all delete operations verify user permissions rigorously. If source code modification is feasible, add explicit authorization checks in the affected functions to validate user roles before allowing deletions. Monitor logs for unusual deletion requests or patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Where patching is not immediately possible due to lack of vendor updates, consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable endpoints. Conduct security awareness training for administrators to recognize signs of compromise. Finally, plan for an update or migration to a patched or alternative system version once available.