CVE-2025-7716 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the Real-time SEO module for Drupal versions from 2.0.0 up to but not including 2.2.0. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary scripts within the context of a vulnerable Drupal site. Specifically, the flaw exists in the Real-time SEO for Drupal module, which is designed to provide SEO-related functionalities in real time. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft specially crafted input that is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered on web pages, leading to script execution in the browsers of users who visit the affected pages. This can result in session hijacking, defacement, redirection to malicious sites, or other malicious activities. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used CMS module presents a significant risk, especially given Drupal's extensive deployment in enterprise and government websites. The lack of an official CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and may require further analysis for precise scoring. However, the technical details confirm the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly.

For European organizations, the impact of this XSS vulnerability can be substantial. Drupal is widely used across Europe by public sector entities, educational institutions, and private enterprises for content management. Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, theft of sensitive information, and potential compromise of user accounts. This is particularly critical for organizations handling personal data under GDPR regulations, as successful attacks could lead to data breaches and significant regulatory penalties. Additionally, attackers could use the vulnerability to distribute malware or phishing content, damaging organizational reputation and trust. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as an initial foothold for more advanced attacks within the network. Given the real-time nature of the SEO module, the risk of malicious content being dynamically injected and served to end users is heightened, increasing the attack surface and potential for widespread impact.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately upgrade the Real-time SEO for Drupal module to version 2.2.0 or later, where the issue is resolved. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data handled by the module. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security audits of their Drupal installations and modules to identify and remediate similar input validation issues. Regularly monitoring web application logs for suspicious activities and employing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting XSS patterns can provide additional layers of defense. User education on phishing and suspicious links is also recommended to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. Finally, maintaining an up-to-date inventory of Drupal modules and their versions will facilitate timely patch management.