# CVE-2023-5286: SourceCodester Expense Tracker App Category add_category.php cross site scripting

> Attackers can inject malicious scripts via the category name field in the Expense Tracker App, potentially leading to session hijacking or code execution.

- **Severity:** Low 3.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 23 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-598q-vccj-qf8x

## What is CVE-2023-5286?

CVE-2023-5286 is a low-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in SourceCodester Expense Tracker App, published on 29 Sep 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in SourceCodester Expense Tracker App v1. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file add_category.php of the component Category Handler. The manipulation of the argument category_name leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-240914 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-5286?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Oretnom23 Expense Tracker.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-5286?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-5286 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-5286 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-5286 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in SourceCodester Expense Tracker App

- [CVE-2023-44048](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-44048/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2022-45033](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45033/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-5286 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-5286 is a low-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in SourceCodester Expense Tracker App, published on 29 Sep 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-5286 exists.

Affected product: SourceCodester Expense Tracker App. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5286/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5286/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-5286
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5286
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-5286

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5286/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.