CVE Alert: CVE-2025-10425 – 1000projects – Online Student Project Report Submission and Evaluation System

Risk verdict

High risk: remote unrestricted file upload with a publicly available exploit pathway, enabling potential remote code execution on web-facing installations.

Why this matters

Unauthorised upload of arbitrary content can lead to server compromise, data leakage of student information, and disruption of submission/evaluation workflows. In educational environments, this threatens integrity of records, regulatory posture, and reputational risk if attackers pivot to other systems or exfiltrate credentials.

Most likely attack path

Accessible admin-endpoint enables an unauthenticated user to manipulate the image upload parameter, bypassing access controls. The exploit requires no user interaction and uses a network-based vector with low complexity, raising the bar for automation and rapid propagation within a compromised host. Impact remains partial per CVSS metrics unless subsequent code execution occurs.

Who is most exposed

Universities or schools using the 1000projects online system, especially those deployed on LAMP-style stacks with public admin interfaces. Organisations hosting student submission portals or evaluation modules are most at risk.

Detection ideas

• Repeated requests to admin/controller/student_controller.php with manipulated new_image values.
• Upload attempts of files with suspicious extensions or MIME types, especially PHP/ASN scripts.
• Uploads stored outside the web root or with executable permissions in the uploads directory.
• Anomalous spikes in file upload size or frequency from single IPs.
• Web server error patterns indicating execution of uploaded content.

Mitigation and prioritisation

• Apply available patch or upgrade to fixed version immediately; if unavailable, implement compensating controls.
• Enforce strict upload validation: allow-listed MIME types, file extensions, and content checks; reject PHP/JS payloads.
• Store uploads outside the web root; disable execution in the uploads directory; implement content-scanning on ingestion.
• Strengthen access controls around the admin endpoint; require authentication and tiered privileges.
• Logging and alerting: monitor for anomalous new_image submissions and post-upload file activity.
• If KEV true or EPSS ≥ 0.5, treat as priority 1. Otherwise, escalate to high with rapid mitigation and testing in a staging environment.