CVE-2025-26199 is a vulnerability identified in the CloudClassroom PHP Project version 1.0. The core issue involves the handling of password submissions in cleartext, which allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. Specifically, the vulnerability arises because the application processes passwords without adequate encryption or secure handling, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads during the password submission process. This flaw can be exploited remotely, without requiring prior authentication or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous. The lack of encryption or secure validation in the password handling mechanism means that an attacker can craft specially designed requests that trigger code execution on the server, potentially leading to full system compromise. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability’s nature suggests a high risk of exploitation once publicly disclosed. The absence of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and has not yet undergone formal severity assessment. The vulnerability affects CloudClassroom PHP Project v1.0, a web-based educational platform built on PHP, which is commonly used for online learning environments. Given the typical deployment of such platforms, the vulnerability could impact web servers hosting the application, potentially exposing sensitive user data and administrative controls to attackers.

For European organizations, the exploitation of CVE-2025-26199 could have severe consequences. Educational institutions and e-learning providers using the CloudClassroom PHP Project may face unauthorized access to sensitive student and staff information, including personal data and credentials. The arbitrary code execution capability could allow attackers to deploy malware, ransomware, or pivot to other internal systems, disrupting educational services and causing significant operational downtime. Confidentiality breaches could lead to violations of GDPR regulations, resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. Integrity of educational content and user data could be compromised, undermining trust in the platform. Availability may also be affected if attackers disable or manipulate the service. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit increases the risk of widespread attacks, especially in environments where patching and security monitoring are insufficient. Furthermore, the lack of encryption in password handling could expose credentials to interception or replay attacks, compounding the risk of broader account compromise.

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-26199, organizations should take immediate and specific actions beyond generic security hygiene: 1) Apply any available patches or updates from the CloudClassroom PHP Project maintainers as soon as they are released. In the absence of official patches, consider temporarily disabling the affected password submission functionality or restricting access to the application via network segmentation and firewall rules. 2) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting password submission endpoints, focusing on patterns indicative of code injection attempts. 3) Enforce HTTPS to protect data in transit and prevent interception of cleartext passwords. 4) Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing on the password handling modules to identify and remediate insecure coding practices, such as lack of input validation and sanitization. 5) Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the impact of credential compromise. 6) Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual activity related to authentication attempts or code execution anomalies. 7) Educate administrators and users about the risks and signs of exploitation to enable rapid detection and response. 8) Consider migrating to alternative, more secure e-learning platforms if timely remediation is not feasible.