CVE-2025-56018 identifies a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the SourceCodester Web-based Pharmacy Product Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists specifically in the Category Management functionality, where the category name field does not properly sanitize user input. This allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the web application. When other users or administrators view the affected category names, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. Since this is a reflected or stored XSS vulnerability within a web-based management system used for pharmacy product management, it could be exploited to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive pharmacy data or disrupt normal operations. The vulnerability does not have an assigned CVSS score yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The lack of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be available. The vulnerability requires user interaction in the form of viewing the maliciously crafted category name, and likely requires at least some level of access to the Category Management interface to inject the payload, though the exact authentication requirements are not specified. XSS vulnerabilities are common in web applications that fail to properly validate or encode user inputs before rendering them in HTML contexts, and they remain a significant vector for client-side attacks.

For European organizations, especially those in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors using the SourceCodester Pharmacy Product Management System, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to sensitive product and inventory data, manipulation of product categories, and potential compromise of user sessions. Exploitation could lead to data leakage, unauthorized actions performed under the guise of legitimate users, and disruption of pharmacy operations. Given the critical nature of pharmaceutical supply chains and regulatory requirements around data protection (e.g., GDPR), such an attack could have legal, financial, and reputational consequences. Additionally, if attackers leverage this XSS to distribute malware or phishing content to employees or customers, it could broaden the impact beyond the immediate application. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in a web-facing management system makes it a potential target for attackers seeking to gain footholds in healthcare environments.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on the category name field to neutralize any embedded scripts. Specifically, applying context-aware HTML encoding before rendering user inputs in the web interface is critical. If possible, update the SourceCodester Pharmacy Product Management System to a patched version once available. In the interim, consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the category name parameter. Conduct regular security code reviews and penetration testing focused on input handling in the Category Management module. Educate administrators and users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or interacting with untrusted content within the system. Additionally, implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in the browser. Monitoring logs for unusual input patterns or errors related to category management can also help detect attempted exploitation.