CVE-2024-41346 identifies a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the openflights project, specifically within the php/submit.php component. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or encoding of user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability can be exploited by tricking users into clicking crafted links or submitting malicious data, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without privileges but requires user interaction, and the impact affects confidentiality and integrity with a scope change (S:C). No patches have been published yet, and no active exploitation has been reported. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which is a common web application security weakness related to improper neutralization of input. Openflights is an open-source project used for managing flight and airport data, often by aviation enthusiasts, researchers, and travel-related organizations. The lack of version specifics suggests the vulnerability may affect multiple or all recent versions containing the vulnerable commit. The absence of known exploits suggests the threat is currently theoretical but should be addressed proactively.

For European organizations, the impact of this XSS vulnerability can vary depending on their use of the openflights software or related web applications incorporating the vulnerable component. Organizations in the aviation, travel, and tourism sectors that rely on openflights or similar platforms could face risks of data leakage, session hijacking, or unauthorized actions performed by attackers leveraging this vulnerability. Confidentiality of user data may be compromised, and integrity of user interactions can be undermined, potentially leading to reputational damage or regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is exposed. Although availability is not directly affected, the indirect consequences of successful attacks could disrupt user trust and service reliability. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to exploit it. The medium severity rating reflects a moderate risk, but the scope change indicates that the vulnerability could affect multiple users or components beyond the initially targeted user. European organizations should prioritize mitigating this vulnerability to prevent exploitation, especially those with public-facing web services or user communities interacting with openflights.

To mitigate CVE-2024-41346, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data processed by php/submit.php and related components. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help reduce the impact of injected scripts by restricting script execution sources. Web application firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block XSS payloads can provide an additional layer of defense. Monitoring user interactions and logs for suspicious activity related to the vulnerable endpoint is recommended. Since no official patch is currently available, organizations should track the openflights project for updates and apply patches promptly once released. Developers should review the commit history and codebase to identify and remediate the root cause of the vulnerability by properly sanitizing inputs and encoding outputs. User education on phishing risks and safe browsing practices can reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation. Finally, conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities will help identify and address similar issues proactively.