CVE-2025-0422 in bestinformed Web
Summary
by MITRE • 02/18/2025
An authenticated user in the "bestinformed Web" application can execute commands on the underlying server running the application. (Remote Code Execution) For this, the user must be able to create "ScriptVars" with the type „script" and preview them by, for example, creating a new "Info". By default, admin users have those permissions, but with the granular permission system, those permissions may be assigned to other users. An attacker is able to execute commands on the server running the "bestinformed Web" application if an account with the correct permissions was compromised before.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-0422 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the bestinformed Web application that stems from insufficient input validation and privilege escalation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's script variable handling functionality, where authenticated users with appropriate permissions can manipulate the system to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying server. The flaw exists in the application's processing of ScriptVars with the "script" type, which creates a dangerous attack vector when combined with the preview functionality that allows users to render these variables within informational contexts. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the application's default administrative privilege assignment, which inherently grants full access to script creation and preview capabilities to administrators, making this flaw particularly dangerous in environments where administrative accounts are targeted.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate user-supplied script content before execution within the server environment. When an authenticated user creates a ScriptVar of type "script" and subsequently previews it through operations such as creating a new "Info" entry, the application processes the user-supplied script content without adequate security controls. This lack of input sanitization creates a direct pathway for command injection attacks, where malicious scripts can be crafted to execute system commands with the privileges of the web application process. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a pre-existing authenticated session with the appropriate permissions, but the granular permission system within bestinformed Web allows for potential privilege assignment to non-administrative users, broadening the attack surface. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and represents a classic command injection scenario where user-controllable input directly influences system command execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-0422 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass complete system compromise potential, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and conduct further reconnaissance within the affected network. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a compromised account with the necessary permissions, making it particularly concerning in environments where credential compromise is possible through phishing, credential stuffing, or other attack vectors. Once successfully exploited, attackers can execute commands with the privileges of the web application user, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability's presence in the preview functionality means that even routine application usage can serve as an attack vector, as users may inadvertently trigger malicious script execution when viewing content containing crafted ScriptVars. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users have access to content creation and preview features. The attack pattern described in the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell", and represents a common exploitation pathway for web application vulnerabilities that allow arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-0422 should focus on implementing robust input validation, privilege separation, and comprehensive access control measures to prevent unauthorized script execution. Organizations should immediately restrict the ability to create and preview ScriptVars with script types to only the most privileged administrative accounts, and consider implementing additional security controls such as sandboxed execution environments for script processing. The application should implement proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms that prevent command injection attacks by filtering or escaping potentially dangerous characters and sequences in user-supplied script content. Additionally, implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring of script creation and preview activities will help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide forensic capabilities for incident response. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege escalation controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access through this vulnerability, they cannot easily escalate privileges or move laterally within the network infrastructure. The remediation efforts should include a thorough review of the application's permission system to ensure that script creation capabilities are appropriately restricted and that administrative privileges are not unnecessarily granted to non-administrative users who do not require such access for legitimate business functions.