CVE-2025-48914 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the Drupal COOKiES Consent Management module versions prior to 1.2.15 (specifically from 0.0.0 before 1.2.15). This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary scripts within the context of a vulnerable web application. The flaw is rooted in insufficient sanitization or encoding of user-supplied input before it is embedded into web pages, which can be exploited by attackers to execute JavaScript or other client-side code in the browsers of users visiting the affected Drupal sites. The COOKiES Consent Management module is responsible for managing user consent related to cookies, a critical component for compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR. The absence of a patch link indicates that as of the publication date (June 13, 2025), no official fix has been released, although the vulnerability has been publicly disclosed. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, but the nature of XSS vulnerabilities makes them attractive targets for attackers aiming to steal session cookies, perform phishing, or conduct other malicious activities within the trust boundary of the affected site. Since the vulnerability does not require authentication or complex user interaction beyond visiting a crafted page, it is relatively easy to exploit once a vulnerable site is identified.

For European organizations, the impact of this XSS vulnerability can be significant, especially given the widespread use of Drupal as a content management system in government, healthcare, education, and private sectors. Exploitation could lead to theft of session tokens, enabling attackers to impersonate legitimate users, including administrators, potentially leading to further compromise of sensitive data and systems. Additionally, attackers could inject malicious scripts to conduct phishing attacks, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate displayed content, undermining user trust and violating privacy regulations such as GDPR. Since the module manages cookie consent, exploitation could also interfere with compliance mechanisms, exposing organizations to regulatory penalties. The vulnerability could disrupt availability indirectly by enabling further attacks that degrade service or cause reputational damage. The lack of a patch increases the window of exposure, and organizations relying on this module must be vigilant. The impact is amplified in sectors handling sensitive personal data or critical infrastructure, where trust and data integrity are paramount.

Organizations should immediately audit their Drupal installations to identify if the COOKiES Consent Management module is in use and verify the version. If the module is present and unpatched, temporary mitigations include implementing strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and sanitizing or filtering user inputs at the application or web server level. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be configured with custom rules to detect and block typical XSS attack patterns targeting this module. Administrators should also monitor web logs for suspicious requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or replacing the vulnerable module with alternative cookie consent solutions that are verified secure. Additionally, educating web developers and administrators on secure coding and input validation practices can reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities. Regularly updating Drupal core and contributed modules is essential once patches become available. Finally, organizations should review their incident response plans to quickly address any potential exploitation.