CVE-2025-58256 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified as CWE-79, indicating an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as Cross-site Scripting (XSS). This vulnerability affects the product 'DOAJ Export' developed by Jonathan Brinley, specifically versions up to 1.0.4. The flaw allows for Stored XSS attacks, where malicious scripts injected by an attacker are permanently stored on the target server and executed in the context of users who access the affected web pages. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization or encoding of user-supplied input before it is included in dynamically generated web pages. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L), the attack can be executed remotely over the network with low attack complexity but requires high privileges and user interaction. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact involves low confidentiality, integrity, and availability losses, indicating that while the attacker can execute scripts, the damage is somewhat limited. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on September 22, 2025, and was reserved about a month earlier. Stored XSS vulnerabilities can lead to session hijacking, defacement, phishing, or distribution of malware, especially if the affected application is used by multiple users or administrators. DOAJ Export is likely a tool related to exporting data from the Directory of Open Access Journals or similar databases, which may be used by academic institutions, libraries, or research organizations.

For European organizations, particularly those involved in academic research, libraries, and educational institutions using DOAJ Export, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized script execution within their web applications. Exploitation could lead to session hijacking of privileged users, unauthorized actions performed on their behalf, or the spread of malicious content to other users. Given the requirement for high privileges and user interaction, the risk is somewhat mitigated but still significant in environments where trusted users have elevated access. The compromise of integrity and availability, even if low, could disrupt workflows, damage reputations, and expose sensitive academic or user data. Additionally, the cross-site scripting vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the network. The scope change indicates that the impact could extend beyond the immediate application, potentially affecting other integrated systems or services.

1. Immediate mitigation should include implementing strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the DOAJ Export application, especially in areas where data is stored and later rendered in web pages. 2. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers accessing the application. 3. Limit the privileges of users who can input data into the system to reduce the risk of exploitation by high-privilege accounts. 4. Conduct a thorough code review and penetration testing focused on XSS vectors within the application to identify and remediate all injection points. 5. Monitor logs for unusual activities or script injections and establish alerting mechanisms for suspicious behavior. 6. Since no patch is currently available, consider isolating or restricting access to the vulnerable component until a fix is released. 7. Educate users about the risks of interacting with suspicious links or inputs within the application to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation requiring user interaction.