# CVE-2026-86290: SourceCodester Online Voting System ajax.php save_category sql injection

> Remote attackers can exploit SQL injection in the save_category function to read or modify database contents in the Online Voting System.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.9 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 8 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c38j-7h5f-xrr4

## What is CVE-2026-86290?

CVE-2026-86290 is a medium-severity SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Voting System, published on 7 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A weakness has been identified in SourceCodester Online Voting System 1.0. This affects an unknown function of the file /voting/ajax.php?action=save_category. This manipulation of the argument Category causes sql injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been made available to the public and could be used for attacks.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-86290?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-86290?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-86290 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-86290 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-86290 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-86290 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-86290 is a medium-severity SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Voting System, published on 7 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-86290 exists.

Affected product: SourceCodester Online Voting 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-2026-86290/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-86290/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-86290
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86290
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-86290

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-86290/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.