CVE-2025-43760 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP, specifically versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.3.132, and a broad range of 2024 and 2025 quarterly releases of Liferay DXP. The vulnerability resides in the PortalUtil.escapeRedirect function, which is responsible for sanitizing URLs used in redirection processes within the portal. Due to insufficient input validation and escaping, a remote attacker with authenticated access can inject malicious JavaScript code into the redirect URL parameter. When this crafted URL is processed and rendered by the portal, the injected script executes in the context of the victim's browser session. This reflected XSS does not require user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted URL, and no elevated privileges beyond authentication are necessary. The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.3 (medium severity) reflects the moderate impact, considering the attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity, no user interaction required, but requiring privileges of an authenticated user. The vulnerability can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, or distribution of malware through the portal interface. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, and no official patches are linked in the provided data, indicating organizations should monitor vendor advisories closely. The vulnerability affects a widely used enterprise portal platform, often deployed in corporate intranets and public-facing web portals, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on Liferay for content management and collaboration.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial. Liferay Portal is commonly used by government agencies, educational institutions, and large enterprises across Europe for internal and external web services. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of authenticated users, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information, session hijacking, and lateral movement within the network. This is particularly critical for organizations handling personal data under GDPR, as exploitation could result in data breaches with legal and financial repercussions. The reflected XSS could also be used to deliver phishing payloads or malware, undermining trust in the affected portals. Since the vulnerability requires authentication, the risk is higher in environments where user credentials are widely distributed or where access controls are weak. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable by unauthenticated attackers, the potential damage to confidentiality and integrity of data is notable, especially in sectors with high-value targets such as finance, healthcare, and public administration.

European organizations using Liferay Portal should implement the following specific mitigation strategies: 1) Immediately review and apply any official patches or updates from Liferay addressing CVE-2025-43760 as they become available. 2) Conduct a thorough audit of all portal redirect URLs and input validation mechanisms to ensure proper sanitization and escaping of user-supplied data, particularly in the PortalUtil.escapeRedirect function or equivalent customizations. 3) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block reflected XSS payloads targeting Liferay portals. 4) Enforce strict authentication and session management policies, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of compromised credentials being used to exploit the vulnerability. 5) Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links, especially those that appear to redirect within the portal environment. 6) Monitor portal logs for unusual redirect patterns or repeated failed attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. 7) Consider deploying Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within the portal context. 8) Limit the exposure of the portal to only necessary user groups and networks to reduce the attack surface.