CVE-2025-46538 is a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the webplanetsoft Inline Text Popup product, affecting versions up to 1.0.0. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. Specifically, the product fails to adequately sanitize or encode user-supplied input before dynamically inserting it into the Document Object Model (DOM) of a web page. This flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser when interacting with the vulnerable component. Since this is a DOM-based XSS, the attack payload is executed as a result of client-side script processing, rather than server-side response manipulation. Exploitation typically involves tricking users into clicking crafted links or interacting with manipulated page elements that trigger the injection of malicious JavaScript code. The injected scripts can steal sensitive information such as session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the user, or redirect users to malicious sites. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on April 24, 2025, and is currently rated as medium severity by the vendor. The affected product, Inline Text Popup, is a web-based tool used to create interactive text popups on websites, which may be integrated into various web applications or content management systems.

For European organizations, this DOM-based XSS vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to web applications that incorporate the Inline Text Popup component. Successful exploitation can lead to compromise of user sessions, theft of credentials, and unauthorized actions performed with the victim's privileges. This can result in data breaches, defacement, or further malware distribution. Organizations handling sensitive personal data, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, and e-commerce platforms, could face regulatory repercussions under GDPR if user data confidentiality is compromised. Additionally, the integrity of web content and user trust may be damaged. Since exploitation requires user interaction (e.g., clicking a malicious link), the attack surface is somewhat limited but still significant, especially in environments with high user traffic or where phishing campaigns are prevalent. The lack of available patches increases the window of exposure, necessitating immediate mitigation efforts. The vulnerability does not directly affect system availability but can indirectly impact business operations through reputational damage and potential legal liabilities.

1. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers with strict script-src directives to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of injected code. 2. Employ input validation and output encoding on all user-controllable inputs before they are processed or inserted into the DOM, even if the vulnerability is in a third-party component. 3. Use client-side frameworks or libraries that automatically handle DOM sanitization to reduce the risk of DOM-based XSS. 4. Monitor web traffic and logs for unusual patterns indicative of XSS exploitation attempts, such as suspicious URL parameters or script injections. 5. Educate users about the risks of clicking on untrusted links and implement anti-phishing measures to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering. 6. Where possible, isolate or sandbox the Inline Text Popup component to limit the scope of script execution. 7. Engage with the vendor or community to obtain patches or updates as soon as they become available and prioritize their deployment. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on client-side vulnerabilities to identify and remediate similar issues proactively.