CVE-2025-23393 is a medium severity vulnerability classified under CWE-80, which pertains to improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags, commonly known as a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. This specific issue affects the SUSE Manager Server Module and its container image suse/manager/5.0/x86_64/server:5.0.4.7.19.1, versions prior to 5.0.24-150600.3.25.1 and 4.3.85-150400.3.105.3 respectively. The vulnerability resides in the spacewalk-java component, which is part of the SUSE Manager infrastructure. It allows an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a user's browser session when interacting with the affected web interface. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.2, indicating a medium level of severity. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N) reveals that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity but requires the attacker to have high privileges and user interaction (the user must trigger the malicious script). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality significantly (high impact) by potentially exposing sensitive information accessible to the user session, while integrity is affected to a lesser extent (low impact), and availability is not impacted. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability is present in SUSE Manager Server Module versions before the specified patched releases and container images used for managing Linux systems at scale. The root cause is insufficient sanitization or encoding of user-supplied input in the web interface, allowing script tags or event handlers to be injected and executed in the victim's browser. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.

For European organizations using SUSE Manager Server Module or the affected container images, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality of sensitive management data and user credentials. SUSE Manager is widely used in enterprise environments for managing Linux infrastructure, including patch management, configuration, and compliance. Exploitation could allow attackers with high privileges to craft malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of administrators or operators, potentially leading to session hijacking or unauthorized access to management functions. This could result in unauthorized changes to critical infrastructure, data leakage, or lateral movement within the network. Given the medium CVSS score and the requirement for high privileges and user interaction, the threat is moderate but should not be underestimated in environments with privileged users accessing the management console. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests limited immediate risk, but the presence of this vulnerability in critical management infrastructure warrants prompt remediation to prevent potential targeted attacks. European organizations with compliance requirements around data protection and system integrity (e.g., GDPR, NIS Directive) should consider this vulnerability significant due to the potential exposure of sensitive operational data.

1. Apply the latest patches and updates from SUSE as soon as they become available, specifically upgrading to versions 5.0.24-150600.3.25.1 or later for the container and 4.3.85-150400.3.105.3 or later for the SUSE Manager Server Module. 2. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data in the web interface to prevent injection of script tags or event handlers. 3. Restrict access to the SUSE Manager web interface to trusted networks and users, employing network segmentation and VPNs to reduce exposure. 4. Enforce multi-factor authentication and strong privilege management to minimize the risk posed by compromised credentials or insider threats. 5. Monitor web server logs and user activity for unusual patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation or reconnaissance. 6. Educate administrators and users about the risks of clicking on untrusted links or executing scripts in the management console context. 7. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads targeting the SUSE Manager interface. 8. Regularly audit and review the security posture of the management infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities proactively.