CVE-2025-49341 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting Alex Furr PDF Creator Lite, specifically versions up to and including 1.2. The vulnerability enables an attacker to perform stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks by exploiting the application's insufficient CSRF protections. In practice, an attacker crafts a malicious web page or email that, when visited or interacted with by an authenticated user of PDF Creator Lite, causes the victim's browser to send unauthorized requests to the application. These requests can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's session. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by potentially exposing sensitive document data, integrity by allowing unauthorized modifications, and availability by enabling denial-of-service conditions through script execution. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, and a scope change, reflecting that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable module. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and assigned a high severity score of 7.1. The lack of authentication requirements and the ability to escalate privileges through stored XSS make this a significant threat, especially in environments where PDF Creator Lite is used to handle sensitive or critical documents.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49341 can be substantial. Organizations in sectors such as finance, legal, healthcare, and government frequently handle sensitive documents using PDF tools, making them prime targets. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, manipulation of document contents, or disruption of document workflows. The stored XSS component could allow attackers to hijack user sessions, steal credentials, or deploy malware within trusted environments. This can result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and operational downtime. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing campaigns could be leveraged to increase exploitation success. The lack of available patches means organizations must rely on interim mitigations, increasing operational risk. Additionally, the scope change in the CVSS vector suggests that the vulnerability could affect multiple components or services, potentially amplifying the impact within complex IT environments.

1. Immediately assess the deployment of Alex Furr PDF Creator Lite within the organization and identify all affected versions (<=1.2). 2. Temporarily disable or restrict access to PDF Creator Lite until an official patch is released. 3. Implement strict Content Security Policies (CSP) in web applications and browsers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. 4. Educate users about the risks of phishing and social engineering attacks that could trigger CSRF exploits. 5. Monitor network traffic and logs for unusual or unauthorized requests targeting PDF Creator Lite endpoints. 6. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block CSRF and XSS attack patterns. 7. Segregate critical document processing systems to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 8. Stay updated with vendor advisories and apply patches immediately upon release. 9. Consider alternative PDF creation tools with stronger security postures if immediate patching is not feasible. 10. Conduct regular security awareness training emphasizing safe browsing and email practices.