CVE-2025-23377 is a vulnerability identified in Dell PowerProtect Data Manager Reporting versions 19.17 and 19.18, specifically related to improper encoding or escaping of output (CWE-116). This vulnerability allows a high-privileged attacker with local access to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML into reporting outputs. The flaw arises because the application fails to properly sanitize or encode output data before rendering it in reports, which can lead to cross-site scripting (XSS)-like behavior within the context of the reporting interface. Exploitation requires the attacker to have high-level privileges and local access to the system, indicating that remote exploitation is not feasible without prior compromise. The vulnerability does not impact the integrity or availability of the system directly but poses a significant confidentiality risk as injected scripts could be used to steal sensitive information from users viewing the reports or to perform actions on their behalf within the reporting interface. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.2 (medium severity), reflecting the limited attack vector (local access), the requirement for high privileges, and the need for user interaction to trigger the malicious script. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability affects version 19.15.0 of the product, which suggests that earlier or later versions may not be impacted or have been remediated. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations that rely on Dell PowerProtect Data Manager for backup and data protection reporting, as it could be leveraged by insiders or attackers who have already gained elevated access to perform further attacks or data exfiltration through the reporting interface.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-23377 primarily concerns confidentiality breaches within backup and data protection environments. Since Dell PowerProtect Data Manager is used to manage and report on backup data, successful exploitation could allow attackers to inject malicious scripts that capture sensitive information displayed in reports or manipulate the reporting interface to mislead administrators. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability, the confidentiality compromise could facilitate further attacks, such as credential theft or lateral movement within the network. Organizations with strict data protection regulations, such as GDPR, may face compliance risks if sensitive data is exposed through this vulnerability. The requirement for local high-privileged access limits the threat to insider threats or attackers who have already compromised administrative accounts. However, given the critical role of backup systems in business continuity, any compromise could have cascading effects on incident response and recovery processes. European enterprises in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny (finance, healthcare, government) are particularly at risk if they use affected versions of this product, as the exposure of backup report data could reveal sensitive operational or personal information.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately identify and inventory all Dell PowerProtect Data Manager instances, verifying the version in use to determine exposure. 2) Restrict local administrative access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce the principle of least privilege to minimize the risk of exploitation by insiders. 3) Implement enhanced monitoring and logging of administrative activities on systems running the affected software to detect suspicious behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Until a patch is available, consider disabling or limiting access to the reporting features that render HTML or web scripts, or use network segmentation to isolate backup management systems from general user networks. 5) Educate administrators about the risks of opening or interacting with untrusted report content and enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative access to reduce the likelihood of credential compromise. 6) Engage with Dell support to obtain official patches or workarounds as soon as they are released and apply them promptly. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on backup infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities proactively.