CVE-2025-5976 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the PHPGurukul Rail Pass Management System, specifically within the /admin/add-pass.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'fullname' parameter, which can be manipulated by an attacker to inject malicious scripts. This flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the administrative interface, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication, although it requires some level of user interaction (UI:P) to trigger the malicious payload. The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.1 classifies this as a medium severity issue, reflecting moderate impact on confidentiality and integrity with limited impact on availability. The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:L indicates low privileges) but does require user interaction, which may limit automated exploitation. No patches or fixes have been disclosed yet, and while no known exploits are currently in the wild, the public disclosure increases the risk of exploitation. Other parameters in the affected file may also be vulnerable, indicating a broader input validation issue. Given the nature of the system—a rail pass management platform—this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise administrative controls, manipulate pass issuance, or gather sensitive user data through session theft or phishing attacks within the admin portal.

For European organizations, particularly those involved in rail transportation or ticketing services using PHPGurukul's Rail Pass Management System or similar platforms, this vulnerability poses a risk to administrative security and data integrity. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to administrative functions, enabling attackers to alter pass data, issue fraudulent passes, or disrupt service operations. This could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance issues under GDPR due to potential exposure of personal data. The impact is heightened in countries with extensive rail networks and digital ticketing infrastructure, where disruption or manipulation of rail pass management could affect large user bases and critical transportation services. Additionally, attackers might leverage the XSS vulnerability to conduct targeted phishing campaigns against administrators, increasing the risk of credential theft and further compromise. While the vulnerability does not directly affect availability, indirect impacts such as administrative lockout or data corruption could degrade service reliability.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately audit the input validation and sanitization mechanisms for all user-supplied data in the /admin/add-pass.php file and related administrative interfaces. Implement strict server-side input validation to reject or properly encode special characters in the 'fullname' parameter and any other input fields. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in the admin interface. Restrict access to the administrative portal using IP whitelisting, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access controls to minimize the attack surface. Regularly monitor logs for suspicious input patterns or attempted XSS payloads. Since no official patch is currently available, consider isolating or temporarily disabling the vulnerable functionality until a vendor fix is released. Conduct security awareness training for administrators to recognize phishing attempts that might exploit this vulnerability. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans tailored to web application attacks.