CVE-2025-3960 is a critical vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the withstars Books-Management-System, specifically affecting the /allreaders.html file within the Background Interface component. The vulnerability is characterized by missing authorization controls, which means that unauthorized users can access or manipulate functionality that should be restricted. The flaw allows an attacker to remotely exploit the system without requiring any authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a low level individually but combined can lead to significant unauthorized access or data exposure. The product affected is no longer supported by the vendor, which implies no official patches or updates are available to remediate the issue. Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the public disclosure of the vulnerability increases the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability’s CVSS 4.0 score is 6.9, placing it in the medium severity category, primarily due to the lack of authentication and ease of remote exploitation. The missing authorization could allow attackers to read sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions within the Books-Management-System, potentially compromising library or book management operations. The absence of vendor support further exacerbates the risk, as organizations must rely on alternative mitigation strategies or consider replacing the affected system.

For European organizations using the withstars Books-Management-System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a tangible risk of unauthorized data access and manipulation. Libraries, educational institutions, and businesses relying on this system for managing book inventories and reader information could face data breaches, loss of data integrity, or service disruptions. The missing authorization could allow attackers to bypass access controls, potentially exposing personal data of readers or internal operational data. Given the system is no longer supported, organizations cannot rely on vendor patches, increasing the likelihood of prolonged exposure. This could lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is compromised, resulting in legal and financial repercussions. Additionally, disruption of book management services could impact operational continuity, especially in public or academic libraries. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it may not lead to full system compromise but still requires prompt attention to prevent exploitation.

Since the affected product is no longer supported and no official patches are available, European organizations should consider the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately isolate the Books-Management-System from public networks or restrict access to trusted internal networks only, using network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure. 2) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block unauthorized access attempts targeting /allreaders.html or suspicious requests that could exploit missing authorization. 3) Conduct a thorough audit of the system’s access logs to identify any anomalous or unauthorized access patterns. 4) Where feasible, replace the unsupported Books-Management-System with a maintained and secure alternative solution to eliminate the vulnerability entirely. 5) If replacement is not immediately possible, deploy compensating controls such as strong network-level authentication, VPN access for legitimate users, and continuous monitoring for intrusion detection. 6) Educate staff about the risks and ensure strict operational procedures to minimize exposure. 7) Regularly back up critical data to enable recovery in case of compromise. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on network isolation, compensating controls, and system replacement strategies tailored to unsupported software vulnerabilities.