CVE-2025-0423 in bestinformed Web
Summary
by MITRE • 02/18/2025
In the "bestinformed Web" application, some user input was not properly sanitized. This leads to multiple unauthenticated stored cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. An unauthenticated attacker is able to compromise the sessions of users on the server by injecting JavaScript code into their session using an "Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting". The attacker is then able to ride the session of those users and can abuse their privileges on the "bestinformed Web" application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-0423 represents a critical security flaw within the bestinformed Web application that stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms. This weakness allows malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's data storage systems, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users simultaneously. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's session management and user input handling processes, where insufficient sanitization permits attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of legitimate user sessions.
This unauthenticated stored cross-site scripting vulnerability operates by exploiting the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the backend systems. When legitimate users interact with the application, their sessions become compromised through the stored malicious payloads that are subsequently executed in their browsers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on credential access through session manipulation. The attack vector leverages the application's trust in user input without proper sanitization, creating a persistent threat that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation, as it enables full session hijacking capabilities for unauthenticated attackers. Once malicious code is stored within the application's database or storage systems, any user who accesses the affected content becomes vulnerable to session compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted resources, modify user data, and potentially escalate privileges within the application's access control framework. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that the attack persists even after the initial injection, creating a long-term threat that can affect users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-0423 must address both the immediate input sanitization issues and implement comprehensive security controls to prevent future similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization protocols that filter and escape all user-supplied data before storage, utilizing techniques such as HTML entity encoding and JavaScript escaping. The application should employ Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution contexts and implement proper session management controls including secure session token generation and automatic session invalidation. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the application's codebase, while implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The solution approach should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls and OWASP Top Ten mitigation strategies to ensure comprehensive protection against such persistent cross-site scripting threats.