CVE-2025-57993 is a Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the Benjamin Pick Geolocation IP Detection product up to version 5.5.0. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious scripts to be stored and executed in the context of the affected web application. Specifically, user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or encoded before being embedded into web pages, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. When other users or administrators access the compromised pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions, or the delivery of further malware. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low to medium, as the attacker can execute scripts but requires some privileges and user interaction. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on September 22, 2025, with the initial reservation date on August 22, 2025.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially for those relying on the Benjamin Pick Geolocation IP Detection tool integrated into their web infrastructure. Stored XSS can lead to compromise of user sessions, theft of sensitive data, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users. This can result in data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to exposure of personal data. Organizations in sectors such as finance, e-commerce, healthcare, and government, which often use geolocation services for fraud prevention or content customization, are particularly at risk. The requirement for privileges and user interaction somewhat limits the ease of exploitation but does not eliminate the threat, especially in environments where multiple users have elevated access. The changed scope indicates that the impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component, potentially affecting other parts of the application or connected systems. The absence of known exploits suggests a window of opportunity for proactive mitigation before active attacks emerge.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately review and sanitize all user inputs and outputs related to the Geolocation IP Detection component, employing context-aware encoding to prevent script injection. 2) Apply strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts. 3) Limit privileges of users interacting with the vulnerable component to reduce exploitation risk. 4) Monitor web application logs for unusual input patterns or script execution attempts. 5) Segregate the geolocation service from critical systems to contain potential impact. 6) Engage with the vendor or community to obtain patches or updates as soon as they become available. 7) Conduct security awareness training emphasizing the risks of interacting with untrusted content and the importance of cautious user behavior. 8) Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with rules targeting XSS attack patterns specific to this vulnerability. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on privilege management, monitoring, and layered defenses tailored to the nature of the vulnerability and the affected product.