CVE-2024-8373 is a vulnerability in Google AngularJS, identified as CWE-791 (Incomplete Filtering of Special Elements). The issue arises from improper sanitization of the value of the [srcset] attribute within <source> HTML elements. This attribute is used to specify multiple image sources for responsive images. Due to insufficient filtering, attackers can bypass typical image source restrictions, potentially enabling content spoofing attacks. Content spoofing involves tricking users into believing they are viewing legitimate content when malicious content is presented instead, which can facilitate phishing or social engineering attacks. This vulnerability affects all versions of AngularJS, as the project has reached its end-of-life and will no longer receive security updates or patches. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.8 (medium severity), reflecting a network attack vector with high attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and limited impact on integrity and availability but no confidentiality impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The lack of patch availability means organizations relying on AngularJS must consider alternative mitigation strategies or migration paths.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability primarily involves the risk of content spoofing attacks that could undermine user trust and lead to phishing or fraud. Organizations using AngularJS in web applications that handle sensitive user interactions, such as financial services, e-commerce, or government portals, may face reputational damage and potential regulatory scrutiny if exploited. Although the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality, the integrity and availability impacts, while limited, could disrupt user experience or enable deceptive content injection. Given AngularJS's end-of-life status, continued use increases exposure risk, especially in sectors with legacy systems or slow upgrade cycles. The medium severity score suggests that while exploitation is not trivial, the potential for indirect harm through social engineering or fraud is significant. European GDPR regulations emphasize protecting user data and preventing deceptive practices, so exploitation could lead to compliance issues and fines.

Since AngularJS is no longer supported and no patches are available for this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize migrating away from AngularJS to supported frameworks such as Angular (2+), React, or Vue.js that receive active security updates. In the short term, organizations should implement strict Content Security Policies (CSP) to restrict the sources of images and other media, reducing the risk of malicious content injection via the srcset attribute. Additionally, web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting the srcset attribute. Developers should audit their codebases to identify and sanitize any user-controlled inputs that influence image sources. User education about phishing and content spoofing risks can also help mitigate social engineering attacks stemming from this vulnerability. Finally, organizations should monitor their web applications for anomalous behavior or unexpected content changes that could indicate exploitation attempts.