CVE-2023-25431 in Online Reviewer Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2023
An issue was discovered in Online Reviewer Management System v1.0. There is a XSS vulnerability via reviewer_0/admins/assessments/course/course-update.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-25431 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Online Reviewer Management System version 1.0, specifically affecting the administrative interface at reviewer_0/admins/assessments/course/course-update.php endpoint. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a critical security concern for web applications. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the web application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling further attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input data that is subsequently rendered in the web page context. When administrators access the course update functionality, any malicious input containing script tags or other executable code can be stored and later executed in the browser of other users who view the affected page. This persistent XSS vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users who interact with the compromised administrative interface. The attack vector is facilitated through the web application's handling of parameters passed to the course-update.php script, where input validation is insufficient to prevent script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this flaw to hijack administrator sessions, execute unauthorized actions within the application, or redirect users to malicious websites. The compromised system could be used to gain persistent access to sensitive educational data, manipulate assessment records, or even escalate privileges within the application. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics including the use of malicious links or content to compromise systems. Organizations using this version of the Online Reviewer Management System face significant risk of unauthorized access and data manipulation, particularly in educational environments where sensitive student and faculty information is handled.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-25431 should include immediate implementation of input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script execution in user-supplied data. The application developers must ensure proper validation of all input parameters and implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be applied to address known vulnerabilities in web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious activities in the administrative interface. The fix should align with industry standards such as OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices, ensuring that all user inputs are properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as this represents a broader class of issues that could affect the overall security posture of the system.