CVE-2025-52331 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the generate report functionality of WinRAR version 7.11, a widely used file archiving utility. The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of archived file names directly into an HTML report generated by the software without proper input validation or sanitization. Because these file names can contain malicious HTML or JavaScript code, an attacker who can influence the file names within an archive can inject arbitrary HTML tags into the generated report. When a user generates and opens this report, the malicious code executes in the context of the local environment, potentially disclosing sensitive information such as the computer username, the directory path where the report is generated, and the user's IP address. The attack requires user interaction, specifically the generation and opening of the report, which limits the attack vector to targeted or social engineering scenarios. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), and the CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity and no privileges required, but user interaction is mandatory. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability can impact resources beyond the vulnerable component. Currently, there are no known exploits in the wild, and no official patches have been released. Organizations relying on WinRAR 7.11 should be vigilant, especially in environments where users frequently generate reports from untrusted archives.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality and integrity of user information. Disclosure of usernames, directory paths, and IP addresses can facilitate further targeted attacks, social engineering, or lateral movement within networks. Organizations handling sensitive personal data or intellectual property may face increased risk of data leakage. Although the vulnerability does not directly impact availability, the potential for information disclosure can undermine trust and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. The requirement for user interaction reduces the likelihood of widespread automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with less security awareness or where users regularly generate reports from external archives. Attackers could craft malicious archives distributed via email or file sharing to exploit this vulnerability. The medium severity rating reflects these factors, indicating a moderate but non-trivial threat to European enterprises using affected WinRAR versions.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Avoid generating reports from archives obtained from untrusted or unknown sources until a patch is available. 2) Educate users about the risks of opening generated reports, especially those created from external archives, emphasizing cautious handling of such files. 3) Implement endpoint security controls that monitor and restrict execution of potentially malicious scripts embedded in local HTML files. 4) Use application whitelisting or sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of malicious code execution from generated reports. 5) Regularly update WinRAR and monitor vendor advisories for patches addressing this vulnerability. 6) Employ network-level protections such as email filtering and malware scanning to reduce the chance of malicious archives reaching end users. 7) Consider disabling or restricting the generate report functionality in WinRAR through configuration or group policy if feasible. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, endpoint controls, and proactive risk reduction tailored to this specific vulnerability.