CVE-2025-13947 is a vulnerability identified in the WebKitGTK project, a widely used web rendering engine for GTK-based applications, including browsers and embedded web views on Linux desktops. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of the origin of drag-and-drop operations within the browser context. Specifically, WebKitGTK fails to verify whether drag events originate from outside the browser, allowing a remote attacker to craft malicious web content that tricks a user into dragging files. This user-assisted action can disclose any file on the user's system that the user has permission to read, effectively leaking sensitive information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-346 (Origin Validation Error), indicating a failure to properly validate the source of input events. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.4 (high), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction. The scope is changed, as the vulnerability allows access to resources beyond the web origin boundary, impacting confidentiality with no effect on integrity or availability. No patches were listed at the time of reporting, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for environments where WebKitGTK is used to render untrusted web content or where sensitive files are accessible to the user, as it can lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential data.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files accessible to users running vulnerable WebKitGTK-based applications. This can include corporate documents, credentials, or personal data, leading to privacy breaches and compliance violations under GDPR. The vulnerability requires user interaction, which may limit large-scale automated exploitation but still poses significant risk through social engineering or phishing attacks. Organizations relying on Linux desktops or embedded systems using WebKitGTK, such as in government, research, or technology sectors, may face increased exposure. The confidentiality breach could result in intellectual property theft, regulatory fines, reputational damage, and potential lateral movement by attackers leveraging disclosed information. Since no integrity or availability impact is present, the threat is focused on data leakage rather than system disruption or manipulation.

Organizations should monitor for official patches from the WebKitGTK project and apply them promptly once available. In the interim, restricting or disabling drag-and-drop functionality in WebKitGTK-based applications can reduce exposure. User training to recognize and avoid suspicious drag-and-drop prompts from untrusted websites is critical. Employing application sandboxing and strict file system permissions can limit the scope of accessible files, minimizing potential data disclosure. Network-level controls such as web filtering to block malicious sites and endpoint detection to monitor unusual drag-and-drop activities can provide additional defense layers. For embedded systems, consider updating or replacing WebKitGTK components with versions that include the fix or alternative rendering engines. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should include checks for this vulnerability to ensure timely remediation.