CVE-2026-2158 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in the code-projects Student Web Portal version 1.0, located in the /check_user.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the Username parameter, enabling an attacker to inject malicious SQL code remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction. This injection flaw can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion within the backend database, potentially exposing sensitive student or institutional data. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 6.9 reflects a medium severity, considering the vulnerability's network attack vector, low complexity, and no privileges or user interaction needed, but limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches or known exploits are currently available, indicating a window of exposure. The vulnerability's presence in a student web portal suggests that educational institutions using this software or similar custom portals are at risk. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract personal information, alter records, or disrupt portal services, impacting operational continuity and data privacy compliance. The lack of authentication requirement and remote exploitability increase the attack surface, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions utilizing the code-projects Student Web Portal or similar systems, this vulnerability could lead to significant data breaches involving student records, personal information, and academic data. Unauthorized access or manipulation of database contents could undermine data integrity and confidentiality, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Service availability might also be affected if attackers execute destructive SQL commands, causing downtime or loss of access to critical educational services. The reputational damage and legal consequences from such breaches could be severe. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited as a foothold for further network intrusion or lateral movement within institutional IT environments. The medium severity score suggests a moderate but tangible risk that should not be underestimated, especially given the sensitive nature of educational data and the increasing targeting of academic institutions by cyber adversaries.

To mitigate CVE-2026-2158, organizations should immediately audit the /check_user.php code and refactor the Username parameter handling to use parameterized queries or prepared statements, eliminating direct SQL concatenation. Implement rigorous input validation and sanitization to reject malicious payloads. Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection and prevention rules tailored to the portal's traffic patterns. Conduct thorough penetration testing and code reviews to identify and remediate similar injection points. If possible, isolate the student portal within a segmented network zone to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. Maintain up-to-date backups of the database to enable recovery from potential destructive attacks. Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent recurrence. Monitor logs for suspicious query patterns or repeated failed login attempts indicative of exploitation attempts. Finally, engage with the vendor or community to obtain or develop official patches or updates addressing this vulnerability.