CVE-2013-2025 in Ushahidi
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Ushahidi Platform 2.5.x through 2.6.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The CVE-2013-2025 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Ushahidi Platform version 2.5.x through 2.6.1. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The Ushahidi Platform, designed as an open-source crisis mapping system, enables users to report incidents and share information during emergencies, making it a critical infrastructure component for humanitarian organizations and government agencies worldwide. The vulnerability's presence in such a widely-used platform significantly amplifies its potential impact across multiple sectors including disaster response, human rights monitoring, and public safety communications.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Ushahidi Platform's codebase. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors that likely involve user input fields, API endpoints, or parameter handling mechanisms. These unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest across multiple input points within the application, including but not limited to incident reporting forms, user profile fields, or administrative interfaces. The lack of comprehensive sanitization of user-supplied data creates opportunities for attackers to execute malicious code in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive crisis information managed by the Ushahidi Platform. During emergency situations, when the platform serves as a critical communication channel for first responders, humanitarian workers, and affected populations, an XSS attack could severely undermine trust in the system's reliability. Attackers could manipulate incident reports, inject false information, or redirect users to malicious websites that could harvest credentials or install malware. The vulnerability particularly threatens the platform's credibility since it operates in high-stakes environments where accurate information is paramount. Organizations relying on Ushahidi for crisis mapping and incident response could face serious consequences including misinformed decision-making, compromised operational security, and potential harm to individuals whose safety depends on accurate reporting.
Security practitioners should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected versions to the latest stable releases. The mitigation approach should include robust input validation mechanisms, proper output encoding for all user-supplied data, and implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their Ushahidi deployments and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious traffic patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with a link, as attackers could leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts or craft phishing campaigns targeting platform users. Regular security training for administrators and users, along with continuous monitoring of application logs for signs of exploitation attempts, forms essential components of a comprehensive defense strategy against this and similar vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure systems.