CVE-2025-4576 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Liferay Portal versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.3.133 and multiple versions of Liferay DXP spanning 2024.Q1 through 2025.Q1 releases. The vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, specifically in the blogs module at the JSP file path: modules/apps/blogs/blogs-web/src/main/resources/META-INF/resources/blogs/entry_cover_image_caption.jsp. This flaw allows a remote attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into the web page without requiring any authentication or user interaction. When a victim accesses a crafted URL containing the malicious payload, the injected script executes in the victim’s browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The CVSS v4.0 base score is 6.9 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires no privileges or user interaction, and impacts confidentiality to a limited extent. The vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability directly. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, and no official patches have been linked at the time of publication. The vulnerability stems from CWE-79, which highlights improper input sanitization and output encoding failures in web applications, a common source of XSS issues. Given Liferay Portal’s widespread use in enterprise intranets, customer portals, and content management systems, this vulnerability poses a significant risk if exploited, especially in environments where sensitive data or privileged operations are accessible through the affected modules.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-4576 can be substantial depending on the deployment context of Liferay Portal. Many enterprises and public sector bodies in Europe utilize Liferay for internal collaboration, customer engagement, and digital service delivery. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, enabling attackers to impersonate legitimate users and access sensitive information or perform unauthorized actions. This could result in data breaches, loss of customer trust, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. Additionally, attackers might use the vulnerability as an initial foothold to conduct further attacks within the network. The fact that no authentication or user interaction is required increases the risk of automated exploitation attempts. Although the vulnerability is rated medium severity, the potential for lateral movement and data exfiltration in critical systems elevates its importance. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and services. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks emerge.

European organizations should immediately assess their Liferay Portal deployments to identify affected versions. Since no official patches are linked yet, temporary mitigations include implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block typical XSS attack patterns targeting the blogs entry cover image caption parameter. Input validation and output encoding should be reviewed and enhanced in customizations or extensions of the affected modules. Organizations should also enforce Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Monitoring web server logs for suspicious request patterns and unusual URL parameters can help detect exploitation attempts early. It is critical to plan for rapid patch deployment once official fixes become available from Liferay. Additionally, educating users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links and employing multi-factor authentication can reduce the impact of potential session hijacking. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on web application vulnerabilities will help identify residual risks related to XSS and other injection flaws.