CVE-2024-12863 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in OpenText Content Management (OTCM) versions 20.2 through 25.1, affecting both Windows and Linux deployments. The vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation within the Discussions feature of OTCM. Specifically, authenticated users with malicious intent can inject arbitrary script code into discussion content that is subsequently stored and rendered by the application without adequate sanitization or encoding. When other users view the affected discussion content, the injected script executes in their browsers within the security context of the OTCM web application. This can lead to a range of malicious outcomes including session hijacking, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, theft of sensitive information, or delivery of further malware. The vulnerability requires authentication, meaning an attacker must have valid user credentials to exploit it. However, once exploited, the impact can extend beyond the initial attacker to any user who accesses the compromised discussion content. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no official patches have been released as of the publication date. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which highlights improper input neutralization during web page generation as the root cause. Given the nature of stored XSS, the attack surface includes all users who participate in or view discussions within the affected OTCM environment. This vulnerability is particularly critical in environments where OTCM is used for collaboration and document management, as it can undermine trust and confidentiality within organizational communications.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-12863 can be significant, especially for those relying on OpenText Content Management for critical document management, collaboration, and workflow processes. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, session hijacking of privileged users, and potential lateral movement within the network if attackers leverage stolen credentials or session tokens. This could result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, and disruption of business operations. Additionally, the stored nature of the XSS means that malicious scripts can persist and affect multiple users over time, increasing the risk of widespread compromise. Organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government are particularly at risk due to stringent data protection requirements under GDPR and other European regulations. The reputational damage and potential regulatory penalties from a successful exploit could be severe. Furthermore, given the collaborative nature of OTCM, the vulnerability could be exploited to spread misinformation or malicious payloads internally, undermining operational integrity.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting discussion posting privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious input. 2. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-generated content within the Discussions feature to neutralize potentially harmful scripts. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts in the browser context. 4. Monitor logs and user activity for unusual patterns indicative of attempted XSS exploitation or injection attempts. 5. Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or executing unexpected scripts within OTCM discussions. 6. Coordinate with OpenText support to obtain and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available. 7. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting OTCM. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities, including stored XSS, to identify and remediate weaknesses proactively.