CVE-2025-69018 identifies a DOM-based Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Shamalli Web Directory Free, a web directory management software. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, which allows malicious scripts to be injected and executed in the victim’s browser environment. This type of XSS occurs on the client side, where the Document Object Model (DOM) is manipulated insecurely, enabling attackers to craft URLs or input that trigger script execution without server-side sanitization. The affected versions include all releases up to and including 1.7.12. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, requiring low privileges and user interaction, and impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability in a limited manner. While no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability could be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or deface web content. The vulnerability’s scope is significant for organizations exposing the affected software to the internet, especially those relying on web directories for public or internal navigation. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate mitigation through alternative controls such as input validation, output encoding, and security headers.

For European organizations, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, theft of sensitive information, and manipulation of web content, potentially damaging reputation and trust. Public-facing web directories are often used by government agencies, educational institutions, and enterprises, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to gain footholds or conduct phishing campaigns. The partial compromise of confidentiality and integrity could facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within networks. Additionally, availability impacts, though limited, could disrupt access to directory services, affecting business operations. The medium severity suggests that while the threat is not immediately critical, it poses a tangible risk that could be exploited in targeted attacks, especially in sectors with high regulatory compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and public administration within Europe.

Organizations should monitor for official patches from Shamalli and apply them promptly once available. In the interim, implement strict input validation on all user-supplied data, ensuring that inputs are sanitized and encoded before being reflected in the DOM. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS payloads. Conduct thorough code reviews focusing on client-side scripting and DOM manipulation to identify and remediate unsafe practices. Utilize web application firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block XSS attack patterns targeting the affected endpoints. Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links that could trigger XSS attacks. Regularly audit and monitor web directory logs for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Finally, consider isolating the web directory application within segmented network zones to limit potential lateral movement if compromised.