Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Simple College Website v1.0 has a critical flaw that can let an unauthenticated attacker write a PHP file and run code on the server. For any public deployment, this can mean full website takeover, data theft, defacement, or service disruption. The sources do not identify a vendor patch or broad product inventory metadata.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation immediately for any internet-facing deployment. The vulnerability can plausibly lead to server compromise, not just website content changes. If the application is not business-critical, removal or isolation is likely lower risk than attempting to maintain unsupported code.
Technical view
The CVE describes arbitrary file write through file_put_contents(), classified as CWE-434, enabling arbitrary code execution through a crafted PHP file. CVSS 3.1 is 9.8, network reachable, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. Affected metadata is sparse, with no CPEs or named vendor in the bundle.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where SourceCodester Simple College Website v1.0 or copied derivative code is deployed on a PHP-capable web server, especially internet-facing instances. Asset discovery may be difficult because the CVE record lacks vendor, product, and CPE identifiers.
Exploitation context
The provided sources include a public write-up describing unauthenticated arbitrary file upload/RCE, but the bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. Treat public-facing deployments as urgent because unauthenticated remote code execution has high impact and low attack complexity.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strong for the vulnerability class, CVSS severity, and named version, but weak for vendor ownership, product identifiers, fixed versions, and exploitation in the wild. Avoid relying on CPE-based scanners alone; direct code and deployment review is likely required.
Mitigation direction
- Identify and retire any deployed Simple College Website v1.0 instances if no fixed version is available.
- Check the project or hosting source for vendor guidance before assuming a patch exists.
- Restrict public access to affected deployments while remediation is assessed.
- Prevent execution of PHP from writable or upload-controlled directories where feasible.
- Review writable paths and remove unexpected PHP files from web-accessible locations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory PHP sites for Simple College Website v1.0 code or recognizable SourceCodester derivatives.
- Confirm whether file-writing functionality is reachable by unauthenticated users.
- Review web roots and writable directories for unexpected PHP files.
- Check web and application logs for suspicious upload or write activity.
- Verify whether any maintained replacement or patched codebase is documented by the source project.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-40087 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.sourcecodester.com/php/14548/simple-college-website-using-htmlphpmysqli-source-code.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.sourcecodester.com/sites/default/files/download/oretnom23/simple-college-website.zipCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://gowthamaraj-rajendran.medium.com/simple-college-website-1-0-unauthenticated-arbitrary-file-upload-rce-44341831bec8CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.