CVE-2025-1763 is a high-severity cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in GitLab Enterprise Edition (EE) versions from 16.6 up to but not including 17.9.7, 17.10 up to 17.10.5, and 17.11 up to 17.11.1. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. Specifically, the flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages rendered by GitLab, which can then execute in the context of a victim user's browser. The vulnerability also enables bypassing of Content Security Policy (CSP) protections under certain conditions, increasing the risk and potential impact of exploitation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.7, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N) reveals that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires privileges of a logged-in user (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is high, while availability is not affected. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches are linked in the provided data, though the affected versions indicate that fixed versions are 17.9.7, 17.10.5, and 17.11.1 and later. This vulnerability is critical for organizations using GitLab EE for source code management and CI/CD pipelines, as exploitation could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed in the context of an authenticated user.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-1763 is significant due to the widespread adoption of GitLab EE in software development and DevOps environments. Successful exploitation could lead to compromise of sensitive source code repositories, exposure of confidential project data, and potential disruption of development workflows. The ability to bypass CSP increases the likelihood of successful exploitation even in environments with security policies in place. This could result in theft of authentication tokens, unauthorized code changes, or lateral movement within the network if attackers leverage stolen credentials. Given the collaborative nature of software development, the vulnerability could also be exploited to target multiple users within an organization, amplifying the risk. The high confidentiality and integrity impact could damage intellectual property, cause regulatory compliance issues (e.g., GDPR breaches if personal data is exposed), and harm organizational reputation. Additionally, since the vulnerability requires a logged-in user context, insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged to exploit this flaw. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for mitigation, but the high CVSS score underscores the urgency for remediation.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading GitLab EE installations to versions 17.9.7, 17.10.5, 17.11.1, or later, where this vulnerability is patched. Until upgrades can be applied, organizations should enforce strict access controls to limit user privileges, minimizing the number of users with write or administrative permissions. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can reduce the risk of account compromise that could lead to exploitation. Review and tighten Content Security Policy configurations to mitigate script injection risks, although CSP bypass is possible, a robust policy may still reduce attack surface. Conduct thorough audits of user-generated content and inputs that interact with GitLab web interfaces to detect and sanitize potentially malicious inputs. Monitoring GitLab logs for unusual activity or attempted exploitation attempts is recommended. Additionally, educating developers and users about phishing and social engineering risks can help prevent attackers from gaining the necessary user interaction to exploit the vulnerability. Network segmentation to isolate GitLab servers and restrict access to trusted users can further reduce exposure. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups of repositories and configurations to enable recovery in case of compromise.