CVE-2025-57425 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in SourceCodester FAQ Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization or output encoding in the 'question' and 'answer' fields processed by the update-faq.php endpoint. An authenticated attacker can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious JavaScript code into these fields, which is then stored persistently on the server. When other users or administrators view the affected FAQ entries, the malicious script executes in their browsers under the context of the vulnerable web application. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or distribution of malware. The attack requires the attacker to be authenticated, implying that the attacker must have some level of legitimate access to the system to inject the payload. There is no CVSS score assigned yet, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability is specific to the SourceCodester FAQ Management System 1.0, and no patch or mitigation link has been provided at this time.

For European organizations using the SourceCodester FAQ Management System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data. Since the attack requires authentication, it is likely that insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, manipulation of FAQ content, and potential lateral movement within the affected network. Additionally, the execution of malicious scripts in users' browsers could facilitate phishing attacks or malware distribution, undermining user trust and potentially leading to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The persistent nature of stored XSS increases the risk as multiple users can be affected over time without repeated exploitation attempts. Organizations relying on this system for customer support or internal knowledge bases may face operational disruptions and reputational damage if the vulnerability is exploited.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on the 'question' and 'answer' fields within the update-faq.php endpoint. Specifically, all user-supplied input should be sanitized to remove or neutralize HTML and JavaScript content before storage. Employing a robust web application firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads can provide an additional layer of defense. Since no official patch is currently available, organizations should consider restricting access to the FAQ management interface to trusted users only and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication, to reduce the risk of account compromise. Regular security audits and code reviews of the FAQ management system should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Monitoring logs for unusual activity related to FAQ updates can help detect exploitation attempts early. Finally, educating users and administrators about the risks of XSS and safe handling of web content can reduce the impact of potential attacks.