CVE-2025-9845 is a medium-severity Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the code-projects Fruit Shop Management System, specifically affecting an unspecified functionality within the products.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of user-controllable input parameters such as product_code, gen_name, product_name, and supplier. An attacker can remotely exploit this flaw by injecting malicious scripts into these parameters, which are then executed in the context of the victim's browser when viewing affected pages. The vulnerability does not require authentication (PR:L indicates low privileges, but no authentication is needed), and user interaction is necessary (UI:P) for the attack to succeed, typically by tricking a user into clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L), user interaction required (UI:P), and limited impact on confidentiality and integrity (VC:N, VI:L), with no impact on availability. The exploit has been publicly disclosed but there are no known exploits observed in the wild yet. This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the web application, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. Given the lack of a patch link, it appears no official fix has been released yet, increasing the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations using the Fruit Shop Management System version 1.0, this XSS vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data. Attackers could leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or deliver malware through malicious scripts. This could lead to data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is compromised. Since the system is likely used in retail or supply chain contexts, disruption or manipulation of product information could also affect business operations. The remote exploitability and public disclosure increase the risk of targeted attacks, especially against smaller retailers or suppliers who may lack robust security monitoring. The medium severity suggests moderate impact, but the absence of a patch and the ease of exploitation via crafted URLs or inputs necessitate prompt attention.

1. Immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding: Sanitize all user-supplied input parameters (product_code, gen_name, product_name, supplier) to neutralize malicious scripts. Use context-appropriate encoding (HTML entity encoding) before rendering data in the browser. 2. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 3. Conduct a thorough code review of products.php and related files to identify all input vectors and ensure secure coding practices are applied. 4. If possible, isolate or disable the vulnerable functionality until a patch or update is available. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risk of phishing or social engineering attacks leveraging this vulnerability. 6. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable parameters. 7. Engage with the vendor or community to obtain or develop an official patch or upgrade to a fixed version once available. 8. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability.