CVE-2025-7053 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Cockpit, a widely used web-based server management interface, affecting versions up to 2.11.3. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of user-supplied input in the /system/users/save endpoint, specifically in the 'name' and 'email' parameters. An attacker can craft malicious input that, when processed by the vulnerable endpoint, results in the injection and execution of arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser. This flaw is exploitable remotely without authentication, although it requires some level of user interaction (UI:P) to trigger the malicious payload. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.1 (medium severity), reflecting a network attack vector with low complexity, no privileges required, and limited impact on confidentiality and integrity, but some impact on availability and integrity at a low level. The vendor has addressed this issue promptly by releasing version 2.11.4, which patches the vulnerability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability could be leveraged to steal session tokens, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or conduct phishing attacks within the Cockpit management interface.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for enterprises and service providers relying on Cockpit for server management. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions, or credential theft, potentially compromising server management operations. This could disrupt business continuity, lead to data breaches, or facilitate lateral movement within networks. Given that Cockpit is often used in Linux server environments common in European data centers and cloud infrastructures, the vulnerability could affect critical infrastructure management. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not catastrophic, it poses a tangible risk that could be exploited in targeted attacks, especially in sectors with high-value assets such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions across Europe.

Organizations should prioritize upgrading Cockpit installations to version 2.11.4 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, administrators should implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the management interface to prevent XSS. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can mitigate the impact of potential XSS by restricting script execution sources. Additionally, monitoring web server logs for unusual requests to /system/users/save and anomalous user behavior can help detect exploitation attempts. Limiting access to the Cockpit interface via network segmentation, VPNs, or IP whitelisting reduces exposure to remote attackers. Regular security training for administrators to recognize phishing or social engineering attempts that might leverage this vulnerability is also recommended.