CVE-2023-7153 is a reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Macro-Bel product developed by Macroturk Software and Internet Technologies. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. Specifically, the affected versions of Macro-Bel prior to version 1.0.1 do not adequately sanitize user-supplied input before reflecting it back in the web interface. As a result, an attacker can craft malicious URLs or input that, when processed by the vulnerable application, injects and executes arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser. The CVSS v3.1 base score for this vulnerability is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) reveals that the attack can be launched remotely over the network without any privileges, requires low attack complexity, no prior authentication, but does require user interaction (clicking a malicious link). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity to a limited extent but does not impact availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or mitigation links have been provided at the time of publication. This vulnerability could be exploited to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the user, or manipulate displayed content, potentially leading to further attacks such as session hijacking or phishing.

For European organizations using Macro-Bel software, this vulnerability poses a tangible risk to web application security and user data confidentiality. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, data leakage, and manipulation of web content, undermining trust and potentially violating data protection regulations such as GDPR. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to lure employees or customers into triggering the exploit. This could be particularly damaging for organizations handling sensitive personal or financial information. Additionally, the reflected XSS could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it is sufficiently serious to warrant prompt attention, especially in sectors with high compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions across Europe.

Given the absence of an official patch, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. First, apply strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within Macro-Bel instances, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped before rendering in the browser. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS payloads. Conduct user awareness training to mitigate risks from phishing attempts that could trigger the vulnerability. Monitor web application logs for suspicious input patterns indicative of attempted XSS exploitation. If possible, isolate or restrict access to Macro-Bel applications to trusted networks or VPNs to reduce exposure. Organizations should also engage with the vendor for timely updates and patches and plan for prompt deployment once available. Finally, consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block reflected XSS attack vectors targeting Macro-Bel.