CVE-2023-7314 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79 affecting Nagios XI, a widely used IT infrastructure monitoring software. The flaw exists in the Bandwidth Report component of Nagios XI versions prior to 5.11.3, where insufficient validation or escaping of user-supplied input allows attackers to inject malicious scripts. When a victim views the compromised report, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed with the victim's privileges. The vulnerability requires low attack complexity and no authentication but does require user interaction (e.g., the victim must open a crafted link or report). The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary. The scope is limited to the affected Nagios XI instance and the users who access the vulnerable component. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the presence of this vulnerability in critical monitoring infrastructure poses a risk. The vulnerability was published on 2025-10-30, and no official patches or exploit code links are provided in the data, though upgrading to version 5.11.3 or later is recommended. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, especially those used in enterprise environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to significant security risks, especially for entities relying on Nagios XI for monitoring critical IT infrastructure such as energy grids, financial systems, telecommunications, and government networks. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive credentials, or perform unauthorized actions within the monitoring platform, potentially leading to further compromise or disruption of monitoring capabilities. This could degrade situational awareness and delay incident response. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate impact, but the strategic importance of affected systems elevates the risk. Organizations with many users accessing the Bandwidth Report component are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger exploitation. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within networks. Overall, the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is moderate but context-dependent, with critical infrastructure sectors facing higher stakes.

1. Upgrade Nagios XI to version 5.11.3 or later as soon as possible to apply the official fix addressing this XSS vulnerability. 2. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, restrict access to the Bandwidth Report component to trusted users only and limit exposure through network segmentation or firewall rules. 3. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within Nagios XI, especially in custom or legacy components. 4. Educate users about phishing and social engineering risks to reduce the likelihood of user interaction with malicious payloads. 5. Monitor web server and application logs for suspicious activity related to the Bandwidth Report page, such as unusual query parameters or script injections. 6. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers accessing Nagios XI. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities in monitoring tools. 8. Maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for handling XSS exploitation scenarios.