CVE-2026-1148 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the SourceCodester Patients Waiting Area Queue Management System version 1.0. CSRF vulnerabilities occur when a web application does not properly verify that state-changing requests originate from legitimate users, allowing attackers to craft malicious web requests that execute actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge. In this case, the vulnerability affects unknown code within the system, but the nature of the flaw permits remote attackers to induce victims to perform unintended operations by leveraging their authenticated session. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.3 reflects a medium severity, with attack vector being network-based, no privileges required, no authentication needed, but user interaction is necessary (e.g., clicking a malicious link). The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the system by potentially allowing unauthorized modifications to queue management data or settings, which could disrupt patient flow or administrative processes. There is no indication of confidentiality or availability impact, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The absence of patches or vendor advisories suggests that organizations must proactively implement mitigations. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust CSRF protections such as anti-CSRF tokens, strict validation of HTTP headers like Origin and Referer, and secure session management. Given the critical role of queue management in healthcare settings, exploitation could lead to operational inefficiencies or patient service delays.

For European organizations, particularly those in the healthcare sector using the affected queue management system, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized manipulation of patient queue data or system settings. This may result in disrupted patient flow, administrative confusion, and potential delays in care delivery, indirectly affecting patient safety and satisfaction. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise sensitive patient data confidentiality or system availability, the integrity impact can undermine trust in healthcare IT systems. Additionally, attackers could use this flaw as a foothold to perform further attacks or social engineering campaigns. The medium severity suggests moderate risk, but the healthcare context elevates the importance of timely mitigation. Organizations relying on this system should assess their exposure and implement compensating controls to prevent exploitation. Failure to address this vulnerability could also lead to regulatory scrutiny under GDPR if patient care is adversely affected or if personal data processing is indirectly impacted.

1. Implement anti-CSRF tokens in all state-changing forms and requests within the Patients Waiting Area Queue Management System to ensure that requests originate from legitimate users. 2. Enforce strict validation of HTTP Origin and Referer headers to verify that requests come from trusted sources. 3. Employ SameSite cookie attributes to restrict cross-site cookie transmission. 4. Conduct user awareness training to educate staff about the risks of phishing and social engineering that could trigger CSRF attacks. 5. Monitor web server logs and application behavior for unusual or unauthorized requests indicative of CSRF exploitation attempts. 6. If possible, upgrade to a patched version once available or apply vendor-supplied fixes promptly. 7. Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with CSRF detection capabilities as an interim protective measure. 8. Review and harden session management practices to reduce the risk of session hijacking that could compound the impact of CSRF. 9. Isolate the queue management system network segment to limit exposure to external threats. 10. Regularly audit and test the application for CSRF and other web vulnerabilities to maintain a secure posture.