CVE-2025-40627 is a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in AbanteCart version 1.4.0, an open-source e-commerce platform. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, specifically within the "/eyes?" URL parameter. An attacker can craft a malicious URL containing JavaScript payloads that, when visited by a victim, execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser context. This execution can lead to theft of sensitive information such as session cookies, enabling session hijacking, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability does not require authentication (AT:N) and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L). However, it requires user interaction (UI:A), meaning the victim must click or visit the malicious link. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.1, classified as medium severity, reflecting moderate impact on confidentiality and integrity but no impact on availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which is a common web application security weakness related to improper input sanitization leading to XSS attacks. Since AbanteCart is widely used by small to medium-sized online retailers, this vulnerability poses a risk to e-commerce websites that have not patched or mitigated this issue.

For European organizations, especially those operating e-commerce platforms using AbanteCart 1.4.0, this vulnerability can lead to significant risks. Successful exploitation can result in theft of user session cookies, enabling attackers to impersonate legitimate users, potentially leading to unauthorized transactions, data theft, or account takeover. This can damage customer trust, lead to financial losses, and cause regulatory compliance issues under GDPR due to exposure of personal data. The reflected XSS nature means phishing campaigns could be used to lure users into clicking malicious links, increasing the attack surface. Given the e-commerce sector's importance in Europe and the reliance on online sales, exploitation could disrupt business operations and harm brand reputation. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system availability, the indirect consequences of data breaches and fraud can be severe.

To mitigate CVE-2025-40627, organizations should immediately upgrade AbanteCart to a version where this vulnerability is patched once available. In the absence of an official patch, implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data, especially URL parameters like "/eyes?" to neutralize malicious scripts. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Use HTTPOnly and Secure flags on cookies to reduce the risk of session theft. Educate users to avoid clicking suspicious links and implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block reflected XSS payloads targeting AbanteCart endpoints. Regularly audit and scan web applications for XSS vulnerabilities using automated tools and penetration testing. Additionally, monitor logs for unusual URL access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.