CVE-2025-4257 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in SeaCMS version 13.2, specifically affecting the /admin_pay.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of the 'cstatus' parameter, which can be manipulated by an attacker to inject malicious scripts. This vulnerability is exploitable remotely without authentication, although it requires some level of user interaction (UI:P) to trigger the malicious payload. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.1, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), and no privileges required (PR:L) but user interaction is necessary. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the affected system to a limited extent, as it allows an attacker to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. However, there is no indication that this vulnerability affects system availability or requires elevated privileges. No public exploit is currently known to be in the wild, but the exploit details have been disclosed publicly, increasing the risk of exploitation. SeaCMS is a content management system used to manage website content, and the affected version 13.2 is specifically vulnerable. The lack of vendor project information and absence of patch links suggest that a fix may not yet be available or publicly announced. The vulnerability is classified as problematic, indicating that while it is not critical, it still poses a tangible risk to affected systems.

For European organizations using SeaCMS 13.2, this XSS vulnerability could lead to unauthorized script execution within administrative interfaces, potentially compromising administrator sessions or enabling phishing attacks targeting site administrators or users. This could result in unauthorized changes to website content, leakage of sensitive administrative credentials, or redirection of users to malicious sites. Organizations in sectors with high reliance on web content management, such as media, e-commerce, and government portals, may face reputational damage and operational disruption. Additionally, regulatory compliance risks arise if personal data is exposed or manipulated, potentially violating GDPR requirements. The medium severity suggests that while the threat is not immediately critical, it requires timely attention to prevent escalation or chaining with other vulnerabilities. The remote exploitability without authentication increases the attack surface, especially for publicly accessible administrative endpoints. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate risk, but the public disclosure heightens the urgency for mitigation.

European organizations should immediately audit their SeaCMS installations to identify any running version 13.2 instances. Until a vendor patch is released, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on the 'cstatus' parameter within /admin_pay.php to neutralize malicious scripts. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) should be configured to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting this parameter. Access to the /admin_pay.php endpoint should be restricted via network segmentation, IP whitelisting, or VPN access to reduce exposure. Administrators should be trained to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious behavior resulting from XSS exploitation. Regular security scanning and penetration testing should be conducted to detect any exploitation attempts. Monitoring logs for unusual activity related to the 'cstatus' parameter can provide early detection of exploitation. Organizations should also prepare to apply vendor patches promptly once available and consider upgrading to later, unaffected versions of SeaCMS. Finally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help mitigate the impact of XSS by restricting script execution sources.