CVE-2025-57665 is a security vulnerability found in the Element Plus UI library, specifically in its Link component (el-link) up to version 2.10.6. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation on the href attribute, which is user-controllable in many web applications. The component directly passes the href value to the underlying HTML anchor element without performing critical security checks such as protocol validation, URL sanitization, or enforcing security headers. This lack of validation allows attackers to craft malicious URLs using dangerous protocols like javascript:, data:, or file:. Such URLs can lead to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by executing arbitrary scripts in the context of the vulnerable web application. Additionally, attackers can exploit this flaw to conduct phishing campaigns by redirecting users to malicious external sites or perform open redirect attacks that can bypass security controls or facilitate further exploitation. Although native HTML anchor elements inherently carry risks when handling untrusted URLs, UI component libraries like Element Plus are expected to implement additional safeguards and provide clear documentation about these risks. The vulnerability affects any application using the vulnerable versions of the Element Plus Link component where the href attribute is set based on untrusted or user-supplied input. As of the publication date, no known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked, indicating that developers and organizations need to proactively address this issue.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks, especially for those relying on web applications built with Element Plus components. The ability to inject malicious URLs can lead to XSS attacks, compromising user data confidentiality and integrity by executing unauthorized scripts that can steal session tokens, credentials, or perform actions on behalf of users. Phishing and open redirect exploits can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and cause financial losses due to fraud or regulatory penalties under GDPR. The impact is heightened in sectors with sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and government services. Since the vulnerability exploits a UI component widely used in modern web development, the attack surface is broad, potentially affecting numerous web applications across Europe. The absence of protocol validation means even non-technical attackers can craft malicious links that appear legitimate, increasing the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks. The lack of security headers further exacerbates the risk by not providing additional layers of defense against such exploits.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately audit all web applications using Element Plus Link components to identify usage of the href attribute with user-controlled inputs. 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all URLs passed to the href attribute, explicitly allowing only safe protocols such as https: and http:, and rejecting or encoding dangerous protocols like javascript:, data:, and file:. 3) Apply Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and limit the domains to which redirections are allowed. 4) Monitor and update Element Plus library versions regularly, and apply patches as soon as they become available from the maintainers. 5) Educate developers about secure coding practices related to URL handling and the risks of open redirects and XSS. 6) Consider implementing runtime application self-protection (RASP) or web application firewalls (WAF) with rules targeting malicious URL patterns to provide an additional defense layer. 7) Conduct security testing, including penetration testing and automated scanning, focusing on URL handling and link components to detect similar vulnerabilities proactively.