CVE-2025-61261 is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in CKEditor version 46.1.0 and Angular version 18.0.0. Reflected XSS occurs when malicious input sent via a crafted URL or form is immediately reflected back by the web application without proper sanitization or encoding, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser. This vulnerability enables attackers to inject and execute scripts that run with the same privileges as the legitimate web application, potentially stealing session tokens, manipulating the DOM, or performing actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication but does require user interaction, such as clicking a malicious link or submitting a crafted form. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4, reflecting a medium severity level with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and impacts on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating that the vulnerability is newly disclosed or not yet weaponized. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input during web page generation. Given the widespread use of CKEditor and Angular in web applications, this vulnerability could be leveraged in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks to compromise user sessions or data confidentiality.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-61261 can be significant, particularly for those operating public-facing web applications that incorporate CKEditor or Angular versions affected by this vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to theft of sensitive user data such as authentication tokens or personal information, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and erosion of user trust. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system availability, the compromise of confidentiality and integrity can lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR, potential financial losses, and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and government services are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of data handled and the regulatory environment in Europe. The requirement for user interaction means that social engineering or phishing could be used to lure victims into triggering the attack, increasing the risk in environments with less user security awareness. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits quickly after public disclosure.

To mitigate CVE-2025-61261, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Monitor official CKEditor and Angular security advisories and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available to address this vulnerability. 2) Implement rigorous input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data to prevent malicious scripts from being reflected back to users. 3) Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4) Educate users and staff about phishing and social engineering tactics that could be used to exploit this vulnerability, emphasizing caution when clicking on suspicious links. 5) Conduct regular security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities, to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. 6) Consider using web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block reflected XSS payloads targeting CKEditor and Angular components. 7) Review and harden application code to ensure that dynamic content rendering properly escapes or sanitizes inputs. These measures collectively reduce the attack surface and improve resilience against exploitation.