CVE-2025-5015 is a high-severity cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting multiple versions (3.30, 4.02, 5.03, and 5.18) of the Parsons Utility Enterprise Data Management product. The vulnerability specifically resides in the AccuWeather and Custom RSS widget components of the software. It allows an unauthenticated attacker to manipulate the RSS feed URL parameter, replacing it with a malicious URL. This manipulation can lead to the execution of arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser when they interact with the widget. The vulnerability requires no authentication but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as viewing or interacting with the affected widget. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, indicating a high severity level, with attack vector being network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and user interaction required (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning successful exploitation could lead to full compromise of user data, manipulation of displayed information, and potential disruption of service. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk. The lack of available patches at the time of publication further increases exposure. The vulnerability could be leveraged to conduct phishing, session hijacking, or deliver malware payloads via the malicious RSS feed URL, impacting users who access the widget within the Parsons Utility Enterprise Data Management environment.

For European organizations using Parsons Utility Enterprise Data Management, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. The ability for unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts can compromise sensitive operational data, disrupt utility management processes, and potentially lead to broader network compromise if attackers leverage the vulnerability as an initial foothold. Given the critical role of utility data management in infrastructure and service delivery, exploitation could result in operational downtime, data breaches, and loss of trust. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that attackers could exfiltrate sensitive data, alter operational parameters, or cause denial of service conditions. Additionally, the vulnerability's presence in a utility-focused product increases the risk of targeted attacks against critical infrastructure sectors, which are heavily regulated and vital to national security and public welfare in Europe. This could have cascading effects on energy, water, and other essential services, especially if attackers use the XSS vector to escalate privileges or move laterally within networks.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on disabling or restricting the use of the AccuWeather and Custom RSS widgets within Parsons Utility Enterprise Data Management until a patch is available. 2. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on the RSS feed URL parameter to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within the application context. 4. Monitor network traffic and application logs for unusual or unauthorized changes to RSS feed URLs. 5. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted widgets and encourage cautious behavior when accessing external feeds. 6. Coordinate with Parsons for timely patch deployment once available and verify patch integrity before installation. 7. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block attempts to exploit this XSS vulnerability. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on widget components and third-party integrations to identify similar vulnerabilities proactively.