CVE-2025-49299 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WebHotelier product developed by WPlugged.com. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. Specifically, the flaw allows malicious actors to inject and store malicious scripts within the application, which are then executed in the context of users' browsers when they access affected pages. The vulnerability affects versions of WebHotelier up to 1.9.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L) reveals that the attack can be launched remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires the attacker to have some level of privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact metrics indicate low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts individually, but combined they represent a meaningful risk. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or distribution of malware to users of the affected web application. Since WebHotelier is a platform used for hotel booking and management, exploitation could compromise sensitive customer data and disrupt business operations. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. However, the presence of this vulnerability necessitates prompt attention to prevent potential exploitation.

For European organizations, especially those in the hospitality and tourism sectors using WebHotelier, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, theft of personal and payment information, and reputational damage. Given the GDPR regulations in Europe, any data breach involving personal data could result in substantial fines and legal consequences. Additionally, the disruption of booking services could impact revenue and customer trust. The scope change in the vulnerability means attackers might leverage this flaw to affect other components or users beyond the initially targeted area, increasing the potential damage. Organizations relying on WebHotelier must consider the risk of targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability to compromise their online booking platforms, which are critical for business continuity and customer engagement.

1. Immediate mitigation should include applying any available patches or updates from WPlugged.com once released. Since no patch links are currently available, organizations should monitor vendor communications closely. 2. Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules specifically designed to detect and block XSS payloads targeting WebHotelier. 3. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the application, especially in areas where user input is stored and rendered. 4. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 5. Limit privileges required to perform actions that can inject content, reducing the attack surface. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or interacting with untrusted content within the platform. 7. Perform regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on XSS vulnerabilities to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. 8. Monitor logs and user activity for signs of exploitation attempts or unusual behavior indicative of XSS attacks.