CVE-2024-35545 identifies a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in MAP-OS versions 4.45.0 and earlier. XSS vulnerabilities, classified under CWE-79, occur when an application does not properly sanitize user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of other users. This particular vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication (AV:N/PR:N), but it does require user interaction (UI:R), such as clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page. The vulnerability has a scope change (S:C), indicating that exploitation can affect components beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact includes limited confidentiality and integrity loss (C:L/I:L) but no impact on availability (A:N). The CVSS score of 6.1 reflects a medium severity, balancing ease of exploitation with moderate impact. No patches or known exploits are currently documented, suggesting this is a newly disclosed issue. MAP-OS is a specialized operating system used in certain secure communication devices and environments, making this vulnerability relevant to organizations relying on these systems for sensitive communications. The vulnerability could enable attackers to steal session tokens, perform actions on behalf of users, or exfiltrate sensitive information through script execution in the victim’s browser context.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-35545 is the potential compromise of confidentiality and integrity of user data within affected MAP-OS environments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in users’ browsers, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed with the victim’s privileges. While availability is not impacted, the breach of confidentiality and integrity could have serious consequences in sensitive or classified communication contexts where MAP-OS is deployed. Organizations worldwide using MAP-OS in government, defense, or critical infrastructure sectors could face data leakage or espionage risks. The requirement for user interaction limits automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns. The absence of known exploits suggests limited current active threat but also highlights the importance of proactive mitigation before exploitation becomes widespread.

To mitigate CVE-2024-35545, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within MAP-OS interfaces to prevent injection of malicious scripts. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Educate users to recognize and avoid suspicious links or content that could trigger XSS attacks, reducing the risk from required user interaction. Monitor network and application logs for unusual activity indicative of attempted exploitation. If patches become available from MAP-OS vendors, prioritize timely deployment. Additionally, consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules tuned to detect and block XSS payloads targeting MAP-OS. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities in MAP-OS environments. For environments where patching is delayed, isolate MAP-OS systems from untrusted networks to reduce exposure.