# CVE-2026-15540: SourceCodester Online Book Store System Administrative index.php php file inclusion

> Remote attackers can exploit improper filename control in the admin interface to include arbitrary files, potentially leading to code execution or data disclosure.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Jul 2026
- **Updated:** 13 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gxqv-hc62-jvc7

## What is CVE-2026-15540?

CVE-2026-15540 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Book Store System, published on 13 Jul 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability was detected in SourceCodester Online Book Store System 1.0. The affected element is an unknown function of the file /admin/index.php of the component Administrative Interface. Performing a manipulation of the argument page results in improper control of filename for include/require statement in php program. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit is now public and may be used.

Weakness: CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program), CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-15540?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-15540?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-15540 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-15540 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-15540 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-15540 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-15540 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Book Store System, published on 13 Jul 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-15540 exists.

Affected product: SourceCodester Online Book Store System. 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-2026-15540/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-15540/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-15540
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-15540
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-15540

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-15540/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.