CVE-2025-57425 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in SourceCodester FAQ Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into the 'question' and 'answer' fields through the update-faq.php endpoint. Stored XSS occurs when malicious scripts submitted by an attacker are permanently stored on the target server and later executed in the browsers of users who access the affected content. In this case, the injection points are the FAQ entries, which are likely displayed to users or administrators. The vulnerability requires authentication, meaning the attacker must have valid credentials to access the update-faq.php functionality. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1 (medium severity), with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. This indicates the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity and no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary (e.g., a victim must view the malicious FAQ entry). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity at a low level, with no impact on availability. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability could be leveraged to execute arbitrary scripts in users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation within the web application context. The lack of available patches or updates at the time of publication increases the risk for organizations using this system.

For European organizations using SourceCodester FAQ Management System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Since the vulnerability requires authentication, internal users or attackers who have compromised credentials could inject malicious scripts that affect other users, including administrators or customers accessing the FAQ content. This could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, session hijacking, or manipulation of displayed content, undermining trust and potentially causing reputational damage. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection regulations, such as finance, healthcare, or government, may face compliance risks if user data confidentiality is compromised. Additionally, if the FAQ system is integrated into customer-facing portals, attackers could exploit this vulnerability to target end-users, increasing the attack surface. The stored nature of the XSS means the malicious payload persists until removed, increasing the window of exposure. However, the requirement for authentication and user interaction limits the ease of exploitation compared to reflected XSS or unauthenticated vulnerabilities.

To mitigate CVE-2025-57425, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Apply strict input validation and output encoding on the 'question' and 'answer' fields to neutralize any injected scripts. Use context-aware encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) before rendering user inputs. 2) Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers, reducing the impact of XSS attacks. 3) Enforce strong authentication and access controls to limit who can update FAQ entries, including multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 4) Regularly audit and sanitize existing FAQ content to detect and remove any malicious scripts that may have been injected previously. 5) Monitor logs and user activities for suspicious behavior related to FAQ updates. 6) If possible, isolate the FAQ management system from critical infrastructure and sensitive data to contain potential exploitation. 7) Engage with the vendor or community to obtain patches or updates addressing this vulnerability as they become available. 8) Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted content, especially in authenticated environments.