CVE-2025-53689 is a security vulnerability classified under CWE-611, which pertains to Improper Restriction of XML External Entity (XXE) Reference. This vulnerability affects Apache Jackrabbit, specifically the jackrabbit-spi-commons and jackrabbit-core components in versions prior to 2.23.2. The root cause is the use of an unsecured XML document builder to load privileges, which allows an attacker to exploit blind XXE attacks. Blind XXE vulnerabilities enable an attacker to send malicious XML payloads that can cause the application to process external entities without revealing direct error messages or responses, making detection more challenging. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to read arbitrary files on the server, perform server-side request forgery (SSRF), or cause denial of service by exhausting resources. The affected versions include 2.20.0, 2.22.0, and 2.23.0-beta. The Apache Software Foundation has addressed this issue in versions 2.20.17 (for Java 8), 2.22.1 (for Java 11), and 2.23.2 (Java 11 beta). Earlier versions, including those up to 2.20.16, are no longer supported, emphasizing the need for upgrading to supported versions. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's nature and potential impact warrant proactive mitigation. The lack of a CVSS score means severity assessment must consider the vulnerability's impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as well as exploitation complexity and scope.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Apache Jackrabbit as a content repository or for managing digital assets. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including configuration files, credentials, or other critical data stored on the server. This could compromise confidentiality and potentially integrity if attackers manipulate XML processing. Additionally, SSRF attacks could be used to pivot into internal networks, increasing the attack surface. Denial of service conditions could disrupt business operations, affecting availability. Given the widespread use of Apache Jackrabbit in enterprise content management systems, digital publishing, and other applications across Europe, organizations in sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and media are particularly at risk. The blind nature of the XXE attack complicates detection and response, increasing the window of opportunity for attackers. Furthermore, compliance with European data protection regulations like GDPR could be jeopardized if sensitive personal data is exposed due to this vulnerability.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately upgrade Apache Jackrabbit to the fixed versions: 2.20.17 for Java 8 environments, 2.22.1 for Java 11, or 2.23.2 beta for Java 11 users. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, organizations should implement XML parser hardening by disabling external entity processing and DTDs in all XML parsers used by Jackrabbit components. This can be done by configuring XML parser factories to disallow DOCTYPE declarations and external entity resolution. Additionally, conduct a thorough audit of all XML inputs to ensure they are sanitized and validated before processing. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit the impact of SSRF attacks, restricting server access to only necessary internal resources. Monitoring and logging of XML processing errors and unusual outbound requests can help detect exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving XXE attacks and ensure staff are trained to recognize and respond to such threats.