CVE-2026-3171 identifies a cross-site scripting vulnerability in the Patients Waiting Area Queue Management System version 1.0 developed by SourceCodester. The vulnerability resides in the /queue.php script, specifically in how it processes the firstname and lastname input parameters. An attacker can craft malicious payloads that, when injected into these parameters, execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability is classified as reflected XSS, where the malicious script is embedded in a URL or input field and executed when a user interacts with the affected page. The attack vector is remote and does not require prior authentication, increasing the attack surface. However, user interaction is necessary to trigger the malicious script, such as clicking a crafted link or submitting manipulated form data. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates low attack complexity and no privileges required, but user interaction is mandatory. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by potentially stealing session tokens or sensitive data, and integrity by enabling script injection that could alter displayed information or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. Availability impact is minimal. No patches or official fixes have been linked yet, and no active exploitation has been reported, but the existence of published exploits raises the risk of future attacks. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in healthcare settings where patient data privacy and system trustworthiness are critical.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-3171 is on the confidentiality and integrity of user data within the Patients Waiting Area Queue Management System. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal session cookies, hijack user accounts, or perform unauthorized actions by injecting malicious scripts. This could lead to unauthorized access to patient information, manipulation of queue data, or phishing attacks targeting staff or patients. While availability is not directly affected, the reputational damage and potential regulatory consequences from data breaches in healthcare environments can be significant. Organizations relying on this system may face compliance issues under data protection laws such as HIPAA or GDPR if patient data is compromised. The remote exploitability without authentication increases the risk, especially if users are tricked into clicking malicious links. Although no widespread exploitation is currently known, the published exploit code lowers the barrier for attackers to attempt attacks, potentially leading to targeted campaigns against healthcare providers using this software.

To mitigate CVE-2026-3171, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data, especially the firstname and lastname parameters in /queue.php. Employing a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads can provide an additional layer of defense. Developers should sanitize inputs using secure coding libraries or frameworks that automatically escape HTML special characters. Until an official patch is released by SourceCodester, consider isolating the affected system from public internet access or restricting access to trusted users only. Conduct security awareness training to educate users about the risks of clicking unknown links. Regularly monitor logs for suspicious activities indicative of XSS exploitation attempts. Finally, maintain an incident response plan to quickly address any detected exploitation and protect patient data confidentiality and system integrity.