CVE-2025-42938 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the SAP NetWeaver ABAP Platform, specifically affecting several versions including S4CRM (100, 200, 204, 205, 206), S4CEXT 109, and BBPCRM (713, 714). This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), allowing an unauthenticated attacker to craft a malicious URL that, when accessed by an authenticated user, results in the injection and execution of malicious scripts within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability exploits the way the platform processes user-supplied input during dynamic page rendering, failing to adequately sanitize or encode it, which leads to the creation of malicious content. Execution of this malicious content enables the attacker to access or modify information accessible within the browser session of the authenticated user, thereby compromising confidentiality and integrity of data. However, the vulnerability does not impact system availability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. Given SAP NetWeaver's widespread use in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems, exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure or manipulation within affected business processes.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the extensive deployment of SAP NetWeaver ABAP Platform in critical business functions such as supply chain management, customer relationship management, and enterprise resource planning. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, including customer information, financial records, and internal communications, potentially resulting in data breaches and compliance violations under GDPR. The confidentiality and integrity of data accessed through users’ browsers could be compromised, facilitating further attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized transactions. Although availability is not directly affected, the indirect consequences of data manipulation or leakage could disrupt business operations and damage organizational reputation. The requirement for user interaction (clicking a malicious link) means social engineering or phishing campaigns could be leveraged to increase attack success rates. Given the interconnected nature of European supply chains and the regulatory emphasis on data protection, this vulnerability could have cascading effects across multiple sectors if exploited.

European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediate review and hardening of input validation and output encoding mechanisms within SAP NetWeaver ABAP applications, especially those exposed to external users. 2) Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 3) Conduct targeted user awareness training focusing on phishing and social engineering risks to reduce the likelihood of users clicking malicious links. 4) Monitor web server and application logs for unusual URL patterns or suspicious user activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads specific to SAP NetWeaver contexts. 6) Engage with SAP support channels to obtain and apply official patches or hotfixes as soon as they become available. 7) Where possible, isolate SAP NetWeaver web interfaces behind VPNs or restrict access to trusted IP ranges to reduce exposure. 8) Regularly audit and update all SAP components to supported versions to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities.