CVE-2026-25806 is a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) found in PlaciPy, a placement management system designed for educational institutions, specifically in version 1.0.0. The vulnerability exists in the backend API routes handling student records: GET /api/students/:email, PUT /api/students/:email/status, and DELETE /api/students/:email. These endpoints enforce authentication via the authenticateToken middleware but fail to implement authorization checks to confirm if the authenticated user is permitted to access or modify the specified student record. Consequently, any authenticated user, regardless of their role or ownership of the student record, can retrieve, update the status, or delete student data. This lack of authorization control can lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data tampering, or deletion of critical student information. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without user interaction and requires only low privileges (authenticated user). The CVSS 4.0 score is 5.3 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no user interaction, and limited scope impact. No patches or known exploits are currently available, indicating a need for immediate attention by users of this software. The vulnerability highlights a common security oversight where authentication is implemented but authorization is neglected, undermining data confidentiality and integrity in educational management systems.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions using PlaciPy 1.0.0, this vulnerability poses significant risks to student data confidentiality and integrity. Unauthorized access to student records can lead to privacy violations under GDPR, resulting in legal and financial penalties. The ability to modify or delete student statuses or records can disrupt administrative processes, affect student placements, and damage institutional reputation. Since the vulnerability allows any authenticated user to perform these actions, insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged to cause widespread data manipulation or loss. The impact extends beyond data loss to potential regulatory non-compliance and erosion of trust among students and staff. Given the critical role of placement management systems in education, operational disruptions could also affect educational outcomes and institutional efficiency.

To mitigate CVE-2026-25806, organizations should implement strict authorization checks on all student-related API endpoints. Specifically, verify that the authenticated user either owns the student record or holds an administrative or staff role authorized to access or modify the data. Role-based access control (RBAC) or attribute-based access control (ABAC) mechanisms should be integrated into the backend logic. Additionally, audit logging should be enabled to track access and modifications to student records for forensic and compliance purposes. Organizations should monitor for unusual access patterns indicative of abuse. If possible, upgrade to a patched version of PlaciPy once available or apply custom patches to enforce authorization. Network segmentation and multi-factor authentication (MFA) can reduce the risk of account compromise. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on authorization logic are recommended to prevent similar issues.