CVE-2025-54057 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-80, affecting Apache SkyWalking versions up to 10.2.0. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in web pages generated or served by the application, which allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code. This injected code can execute in the context of the victim's browser when they interact with a crafted URL or web page, potentially leading to theft of authentication tokens, session hijacking, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability requires no authentication (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as clicking a malicious link. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning exploitation can be attempted remotely without physical access. The vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity but does not impact availability. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting a medium severity level. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The Apache Software Foundation has addressed this issue in version 10.3.0 of Apache SkyWalking, and users are strongly advised to upgrade to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54057 can be significant, especially for those relying on Apache SkyWalking for application performance monitoring and observability. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the browsers of users interacting with the affected web interface, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive monitoring data, session hijacking, or manipulation of user actions. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of operational data and user credentials, undermining trust in monitoring systems and potentially facilitating further attacks within the network. Given the widespread adoption of Apache SkyWalking in cloud-native and microservices environments, organizations with complex distributed systems are at higher risk. The vulnerability does not directly affect system availability but could indirectly impact operational continuity if attackers leverage stolen credentials or data to escalate privileges or disrupt services. The need for user interaction limits the attack surface somewhat, but phishing or social engineering campaigns could increase exploitation likelihood. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests a window for proactive mitigation before active attacks emerge.

To mitigate CVE-2025-54057, European organizations should immediately upgrade Apache SkyWalking to version 10.3.0 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data rendered in web interfaces to prevent script injection. Deploying Content Security Policies (CSP) can help restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers, reducing the impact of potential XSS attacks. Monitoring and logging web interface access for unusual activity can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. Educating users about the risks of clicking unsolicited links and employing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can further reduce the risk of session hijacking. Network segmentation and limiting access to the SkyWalking web interface to trusted networks or VPNs can reduce exposure. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues proactively.