CVE-2023-53938 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in RockMongo version 1.1.7, a popular web-based MongoDB administration interface developed by iwind. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically through multiple unencoded input parameters including database, collection, and login fields. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when submitted via these parameters, are stored by the application and later rendered in the victim's browser without proper sanitization or encoding. This allows arbitrary JavaScript execution in the context of the victim's session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or execution of further malicious actions within the victim’s browser environment. The vulnerability does not require authentication to exploit but does require user interaction to trigger the malicious script. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L), user interaction required (UI:P), and low impact on confidentiality and integrity (VC:L, VI:L), with no impact on availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability highlights a common web security issue where input parameters are not properly sanitized or encoded before being embedded in web pages, a critical concern for web administration tools that handle sensitive database management tasks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-53938 can be significant, particularly for those relying on RockMongo 1.1.7 to manage MongoDB databases. Successful exploitation could lead to the execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browsers of administrators or users accessing the RockMongo interface, potentially resulting in session hijacking, theft of authentication credentials, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive database management operations and data. Additionally, attackers could leverage the vulnerability as a foothold to launch further attacks within the organization's network. Given that RockMongo is a management tool, compromise of its interface could lead to broader database exposure or manipulation. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate risk, but the actual impact depends on the deployment context, user privileges, and exposure of the RockMongo interface to untrusted networks. European organizations with publicly accessible or weakly protected RockMongo instances face higher risk. The vulnerability also poses reputational risks and potential regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is exposed or manipulated.

To mitigate CVE-2023-53938, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately restrict access to RockMongo interfaces to trusted internal networks or VPNs to reduce exposure. 2) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied parameters, especially database, collection, and login fields, to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 3) Monitor and audit RockMongo usage logs for suspicious activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) If available, apply vendor patches or updates that address this vulnerability; if no patch exists, consider upgrading to a newer, secure version or alternative MongoDB management tools. 5) Educate administrators and users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or payloads that could trigger stored XSS attacks. 6) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers accessing RockMongo. 7) Regularly review and harden web application security configurations and conduct penetration testing focused on web interface vulnerabilities. These measures will help reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this stored XSS vulnerability.