CVE-2025-43800 is a Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.20 through 7.4.3.111, as well as Liferay DXP 2023.Q4.0, 2023.Q3.1 through 2023.Q3.4, and 7.4 GA through update 92. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically within objects that contain rich text type fields. An attacker can exploit this flaw by injecting crafted payloads containing arbitrary web scripts or HTML into these rich text fields. When the vulnerable portal renders these objects, the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability requires no authentication but does require user interaction, such as viewing the malicious content. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 4.8 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed, and limited impact on confidentiality and integrity. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, indicating improper input neutralization during web page generation, a common vector for XSS attacks. Given the widespread use of Liferay Portal in enterprise environments for content management and collaboration, this vulnerability poses a risk of client-side attacks that can undermine user trust and data security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43800 can be significant, especially for those relying on Liferay Portal for intranet, extranet, or public-facing web services. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in users' browsers, leading to session hijacking, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or manipulation of user interactions. This can result in data breaches, loss of intellectual property, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The medium severity score suggests limited direct system compromise but highlights the risk to user confidentiality and integrity. Organizations with large user bases or those providing critical services via Liferay portals may face increased risk of phishing or social engineering attacks leveraging this vulnerability. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction means that targeted spear-phishing campaigns could increase the likelihood of exploitation. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks emerge.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43800, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Apply patches or updates from Liferay as soon as they become available, as no patch links are currently provided but monitoring vendor advisories is critical. 2) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all rich text fields to neutralize potentially malicious scripts, using context-aware encoding libraries. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application input handling, especially in rich text components. 5) Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted content and encourage cautious behavior regarding links or content received via the portal. 6) Monitor web server and application logs for unusual activity that may indicate attempted exploitation. 7) Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads targeting Liferay Portal. These measures, combined with timely patching, will reduce the risk of exploitation and limit potential damage.