CVE-2025-24771 is a high-severity security vulnerability classified as CWE-79, which corresponds to Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as Cross-site Scripting (XSS). This vulnerability affects OTWthemes' Content Manager Light product, specifically versions up to 3.2. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages generated by the application, which are then executed in the context of users' browsers when they visit the affected pages. The vulnerability is of the reflected XSS type, meaning that the malicious payload is reflected off the web server in an immediate response, typically via URL parameters or other input fields that are not properly sanitized or encoded before being included in the HTML output. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L), this vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without any privileges or authentication, but requires user interaction (such as clicking a crafted link). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. The impact includes low confidentiality loss (C:L), low integrity loss (I:L), and low availability loss (A:L), which is typical for reflected XSS attacks that can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in January 2025 and published in July 2025, indicating it is a recent discovery. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation and output encoding during web page generation in Content Manager Light, which is a content management system used to manage website content, likely targeting small to medium-sized websites or blogs.

For European organizations using OTWthemes Content Manager Light, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those managing public-facing websites. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the browsers of site visitors, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive user data, phishing attacks, or unauthorized actions performed with the privileges of the victim user. This can damage the organization's reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, and result in regulatory penalties. The reflected XSS nature means attackers often rely on social engineering to trick users into clicking malicious links, which can be distributed via email or social media. Given the scope change in the CVSS vector, the impact may extend beyond the immediate application, potentially affecting integrated systems or services. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation (no authentication required, low attack complexity) increases the likelihood of attacks once the vulnerability becomes widely known. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the high CVSS score and the commonality of XSS attacks suggest that European organizations should treat this as a serious threat. The impact is particularly critical for organizations handling sensitive user data, financial transactions, or those with high web traffic, as the potential for widespread exploitation and data compromise is significant.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediate assessment of whether OTWthemes Content Manager Light is in use within their web infrastructure, including version identification. 2) Apply any available patches or updates from OTWthemes as soon as they are released; if no patch is available yet, consider temporary mitigations such as disabling vulnerable features or modules that process user input reflected in web pages. 3) Implement robust input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data, especially in URL parameters and form inputs, to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 4) Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with updated rules to detect and block reflected XSS attack patterns targeting Content Manager Light. 5) Conduct security awareness training for employees and users to recognize and avoid phishing attempts that may leverage this vulnerability. 6) Monitor web server logs and network traffic for suspicious requests containing script payloads or unusual URL parameters. 7) Consider Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers, reducing the impact of potential XSS attacks. 8) Engage in regular security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities in the affected application. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate identification, layered defenses, and user education tailored to the specific vulnerability context.