CVE-2025-9738 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Portabilis i-Educar platform, specifically affecting versions 2.0 through 2.10. The vulnerability exists in the file /intranet/educar_tipo_ensino_cad.php, where improper handling of the nm_tipo parameter allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts. This flaw can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, although user interaction is necessary for the malicious payload to execute, typically when a victim accesses a crafted URL or page. The vulnerability is classified as reflected XSS, which can lead to the execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's browser. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.1, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction needed. The impact primarily affects confidentiality and integrity to a limited extent, with no direct impact on availability. Exploits have been published, increasing the risk of exploitation, although no widespread exploitation in the wild has been reported yet. The vulnerability can be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or conduct phishing attacks within the affected application environment.

For European organizations using Portabilis i-Educar, particularly educational institutions and administrative bodies relying on this platform for managing educational data, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized access to user sessions and potential data leakage. Attackers exploiting this XSS flaw could hijack user sessions, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive student or staff information, manipulation of educational records, or unauthorized actions within the system. Given the nature of educational data, this could result in privacy violations and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. The medium severity suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it still represents a significant risk, especially in environments where users have elevated privileges or where the platform is integrated with other critical systems. The remote exploitability and published proof-of-concept increase the urgency for mitigation to prevent targeted attacks or broader exploitation campaigns.

Organizations should prioritize applying patches or updates from Portabilis as soon as they become available for versions 2.0 through 2.10. In the absence of official patches, immediate mitigation steps include implementing robust input validation and output encoding on the nm_tipo parameter to neutralize malicious scripts. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting this parameter. Additionally, enforcing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can reduce the impact of successful XSS by restricting script execution sources. Regular security awareness training for users can help mitigate the risk of social engineering attacks leveraging this vulnerability. Monitoring web server logs for suspicious requests targeting /intranet/educar_tipo_ensino_cad.php and unusual user activity can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should review session management practices to limit the damage from session hijacking, such as implementing short session timeouts and multi-factor authentication where feasible.