CVE-2025-43769 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP, specifically versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.3.131 and various 2024 quarterly releases of DXP. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. This flaw allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code via the components tab in the portal interface. Because it is a stored XSS, malicious payloads can be persistently stored on the server and executed in the browsers of users who access the affected components, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed with the victim’s privileges. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 4.6 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based with low complexity and no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary to trigger the payload. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity moderately, with limited impact on availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or mitigation links are provided yet. The vulnerability affects a widely used enterprise portal platform that integrates web content management, collaboration, and business process automation, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise internal enterprise environments or gain footholds in corporate networks.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for enterprises relying on Liferay Portal for intranet, extranet, or customer-facing web applications. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information, user credential theft, and potential lateral movement within the network. Given the stored nature of the XSS, attacks can persist and affect multiple users over time, increasing the risk of data leakage or manipulation. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and telecommunications, which often use Liferay for digital services, may face regulatory compliance risks under GDPR if personal data is compromised. Additionally, the medium severity score suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it still poses a tangible risk that could be leveraged as part of a multi-stage attack chain. The requirement for user interaction (e.g., clicking a malicious link or viewing a compromised page) means that social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to facilitate exploitation.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately review and restrict access to the components tab and other input fields susceptible to injection, applying strict input validation and output encoding where possible. 2) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts within the portal environment. 3) Conduct thorough code audits and penetration testing focused on XSS vectors in the affected Liferay versions. 4) Monitor logs for unusual activity related to the components tab and user inputs that could indicate attempted exploitation. 5) Educate users about the risks of clicking unknown links or interacting with suspicious content within the portal. 6) Plan and prioritize upgrading to patched versions once available from Liferay, or apply vendor-recommended workarounds. 7) Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting Liferay portals. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific attack vector and environment characteristics.