CVE-2025-58049 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the XWiki Platform, a widely used generic wiki platform that provides runtime services for applications built on top of it. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of sensitive information during PDF export jobs. Specifically, in affected versions (from 14.4.2 up to but not including 16.4.8, 16.5.0-rc-1 up to but not including 16.10.7, and 17.0.0-rc-1 up to but not including 17.4.0-rc-1), the platform stores sensitive cookies unencrypted within job status data. This violates secure data handling best practices, as sensitive cookies—potentially containing authentication tokens or session identifiers—are stored in plaintext. This flaw is categorized under CWE-212 (Improper Removal of Sensitive Information Before Storage or Transfer) and CWE-257 (Storing Passwords in Plaintext). The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require high privileges to exploit, and it affects confidentiality without impacting integrity or availability. Attackers with access to backups or job status data could retrieve sensitive cookies, potentially enabling unauthorized access or session hijacking. The issue has been addressed in patched versions 16.4.8, 16.10.7, and 17.4.0-rc-1 of XWiki Platform. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.8, reflecting a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network, high attack complexity, and requiring privileges but no user interaction. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild.

For European organizations using affected versions of XWiki Platform, this vulnerability poses a significant confidentiality risk. Sensitive cookies stored in plaintext could be exposed if backups or job status data are accessed by unauthorized parties, either through insider threats or external breaches. This exposure could lead to session hijacking or unauthorized access to internal wiki content, potentially leaking sensitive corporate information or intellectual property. Given that wikis are often used for collaborative documentation, project management, and knowledge sharing, compromise could disrupt business operations and erode trust. The vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability but could serve as a stepping stone for further attacks. Organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, or government may face compliance risks under GDPR or other data protection laws if sensitive data is exposed. The medium severity score suggests that while exploitation is not trivial, the impact on confidentiality is high, warranting prompt remediation.

European organizations should immediately assess their XWiki Platform deployments to identify if they run affected versions. Upgrading to the patched versions (16.4.8, 16.10.7, or 17.4.0-rc-1 and later) is the primary and most effective mitigation. Until upgrades can be applied, organizations should restrict access to backup files and job status data, ensuring they are stored securely with strong encryption and access controls. Review and tighten permissions for users with high privileges to minimize the risk of insider threats. Implement monitoring and alerting on access to backup and job status directories to detect suspicious activity. Additionally, consider rotating session cookies and invalidating existing sessions after patching to mitigate risks from previously exposed cookies. Conduct regular audits of sensitive data handling practices within the platform and enforce secure coding standards for custom extensions or integrations. Finally, incorporate this vulnerability into incident response plans to ensure rapid containment if exploitation is detected.