CVE-2020-28172: A SQL injection vulnerability in Simple College Website 1.0 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to bypass

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2020-28172 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting simple college. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A SQL injection vulnerability in Simple College Website 1.0 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to bypass the admin authentication mechanism in college_website/admin/ajax.php?action=login, thus gaining access to the website administrative panel.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	3.0% (top 13%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-89
Published	2021-03-31
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: simple college project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-03-31 13:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:10 UTCUpdated Record last modified

simple college project simple college DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy simple-college || rpm -q simple-college || simple-college --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison simple-college sudo apt install simple-college=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo apt-mark hold simple-college

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list simple-college sudo dnf downgrade simple-college-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo dnf versionlock add simple-college

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-28172?

simple college: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-28172 being exploited?

CVE-2020-28172 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-28172 affect?

CVE-2020-28172 affects simple college. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). A SQL injection vulnerability in Simple College Website 1.0 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to bypass the admin authentication mechanism in college_website/admin/ajax.php?action=login, thus gaining access to the website administrati

How urgent is CVE-2020-28172?

Priority 66/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2020-28173 HIGH 7.2 DOWNGRADE Simple College Website 1.0 allows a user to conduct remote code execution via /alumni/admin/ajax.php?action=sa

References

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