CVE-2026-1421 identifies a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in version 1.0 of the code-projects Online Examination System, specifically within an unspecified function of the Add Pages component. XSS vulnerabilities occur when an application does not properly sanitize user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication but requires some user interaction, such as clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page. The vulnerability's CVSS 4.0 vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L, meaning low privileges), and user interaction required (UI:P). The impact on confidentiality is none, integrity is low, and availability is none, reflecting that the primary risk is script execution leading to session hijacking, data theft, or defacement rather than system compromise or denial of service. No patches or fixes are currently listed, and no known exploits are reported in the wild, but public disclosure increases the likelihood of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of the product, which is used for managing online examinations, a critical function in educational institutions and certification bodies. The lack of detailed technical information about the vulnerable function limits precise mitigation but highlights the need for input validation and output encoding in the Add Pages component.

For European organizations, especially educational institutions and certification authorities using the code-projects Online Examination System 1.0, this vulnerability poses risks to the confidentiality and integrity of examination data and user credentials. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to session hijacking, unauthorized access to exam content, manipulation of exam results, or phishing attacks targeting students and administrators. This could undermine trust in online examination processes and lead to reputational damage, regulatory scrutiny, and potential legal consequences under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The medium severity indicates a moderate risk, but the public disclosure and ease of remote exploitation increase urgency. The vulnerability does not directly impact system availability but could indirectly disrupt examination operations if exploited at scale.

1. Monitor for official patches or updates from the vendor and apply them promptly once available. 2. Implement strict input validation on all user-supplied data in the Add Pages component to reject or sanitize potentially malicious content. 3. Employ robust output encoding techniques to ensure that any user input rendered in web pages cannot execute as code. 4. Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. 5. Conduct security audits and code reviews focusing on input handling and output rendering in the affected component. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking untrusted links or interacting with suspicious content related to the examination system. 7. Consider web application firewalls (WAF) with XSS detection and prevention capabilities as an additional protective layer. 8. Isolate the examination system network segment to limit exposure and monitor logs for suspicious activities indicating attempted exploitation.