CVE-2026-1160 identifies a SQL Injection vulnerability in PHPGurukul Directory Management System version 1.0, located in the Search component within the /index.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the 'searchdata' parameter, which allows an attacker to inject arbitrary SQL code remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction. This flaw can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of database records, and potentially full compromise of the underlying database server. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9, indicating medium severity, with attack vector network-based, low attack complexity, and no privileges or user interaction required. Although no known exploits are currently active in the wild, the public disclosure of the vulnerability increases the likelihood of exploitation attempts. The absence of patches or vendor-provided fixes necessitates immediate mitigation efforts by affected organizations. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data managed by the Directory Management System, which is often critical for organizational operations. The exploitability without authentication makes it a significant risk, especially for internet-facing deployments. The vulnerability's scope is limited to version 1.0 of the product, but organizations using this or similar versions must act swiftly to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, exploitation of this SQL Injection vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive directory data, manipulation or deletion of critical records, and potential disruption of directory services. This can affect internal operations, user management, and data privacy compliance obligations such as GDPR. The compromise of directory data may also facilitate further lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader system breaches. Organizations relying on PHPGurukul Directory Management System for managing employee or customer information are particularly vulnerable. The medium severity rating reflects a significant but not catastrophic impact; however, the ease of exploitation and lack of required privileges elevate the threat level. Data breaches resulting from this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and operational downtime. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate impact but does not reduce the urgency for mitigation. The threat is more pronounced for organizations with internet-exposed directory management interfaces or weak perimeter defenses.

To mitigate CVE-2026-1160, organizations should immediately implement strict input validation and sanitization on the 'searchdata' parameter to prevent malicious SQL code injection. Employing parameterized queries or prepared statements in the Search component's codebase is critical to eliminate injection vectors. If possible, upgrade to a patched or newer version of PHPGurukul Directory Management System once available. In the absence of official patches, consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable parameter. Restrict access to the directory management system to trusted networks and enforce strong network segmentation to minimize exposure. Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing focused on injection flaws. Regularly monitor logs for suspicious query patterns or anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, ensure database accounts used by the application have the least privileges necessary to limit potential damage. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups to enable recovery in case of data corruption or deletion.