CVE-2025-1087 in Insomnia Desktop Application
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2025
Kong Insomnia Desktop Application before 11.0.2 contains a template injection vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input when processing template strings, which can lead to arbitrary JavaScript execution in the context of the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1087 affects the Kong Insomnia desktop application version 11.0.1 and earlier, representing a critical template injection flaw that enables remote code execution. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within template string processing mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the application's execution context. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization procedures that fail to properly escape or filter template variables, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's template engine through crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, specifically manifesting as insufficient validation of user-supplied input in template processing contexts. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious template strings that contain executable JavaScript code, which then gets processed by the application's template engine without proper sanitization. This allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges and permissions of the Insomnia application itself, potentially enabling full system compromise depending on the execution environment and user privileges. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code injection as it can be leveraged to perform privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms within the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-1087 is significant given that the Insomnia application is widely used for API testing and development activities, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise development environments or gain access to sensitive API endpoints. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to execute malicious code on the victim's machine with the application's privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the application runs with elevated permissions. The attack surface is particularly concerning in development environments where Insomnia is commonly used, as these systems often contain sensitive development credentials, API keys, and access tokens that could be harvested through exploitation of this vulnerability.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching to version 11.0.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization measures for template processing. Organizations should implement network-based controls such as firewall rules and intrusion prevention systems to monitor for suspicious template injection patterns, while also applying principle of least privilege to limit the application's execution permissions. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive input validation across all template processing pathways, implementation of secure template engines with built-in sanitization features, and regular security assessments of the application's template handling mechanisms. Additionally, security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual JavaScript execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts to API testing environments where Insomnia is deployed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in desktop applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript/JScript execution, emphasizing the need for robust application sandboxing and code execution controls in development tools.