CVE-2025-42872 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal, specifically affecting the EP-RUNTIME 7.50 version. This vulnerability arises from the presence of active debug code that improperly sanitizes user input, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into the portal. When other users access the compromised portal pages, the injected scripts execute within their browser context. This can lead to the theft of session cookies, authentication tokens, or other sensitive information accessible via the browser, enabling session hijacking or impersonation attacks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-489, which relates to active debug code left in production environments, increasing attack surface. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.1 reflects a medium severity, with attack vector being network-based (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation affects resources beyond the vulnerable component. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are low, while availability remains unaffected. No patches or known exploits have been published as of the vulnerability disclosure date (December 9, 2025).

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability primarily concerns the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions within SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal environments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to hijack user sessions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive business data or performing actions on behalf of legitimate users. Although availability is not impacted, the breach of session security can lead to data leakage, compliance violations (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors heavily reliant on SAP for enterprise resource planning (ERP), such as manufacturing, finance, and public administration, face increased risk. The vulnerability's requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to trigger exploitation. Given SAP's widespread use across Europe, particularly in Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands, the threat could affect critical infrastructure and large enterprises, amplifying potential operational and regulatory consequences.

1. Apply patches or updates from SAP as soon as they become available to address the vulnerability directly. 2. In the absence of immediate patches, disable or remove any debug code or features in SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal that are not required in production environments. 3. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data to prevent script injection. 4. Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within browsers accessing the portal. 5. Educate users about phishing and social engineering risks to reduce the likelihood of user interaction leading to exploitation. 6. Monitor web application logs and user activity for suspicious behavior indicative of XSS exploitation attempts. 7. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block XSS payloads targeting SAP NetWeaver portals. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities within SAP environments.