CVE-2025-2161 in Pega Infinity
Summary
by MITRE • 04/14/2025
Pega Platform versions 7.2.1 to Infinity 24.2.1 are affected by an XSS issue with Mashup
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-2161 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Pega Platform versions ranging from 7.2.1 through Infinity 24.2.1. This issue specifically affects the Mashup functionality which allows integration of external content into Pega applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Mashup component, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw resides in how the platform processes and renders user-supplied data within the Mashup context, particularly when handling external content sources and dynamic data insertion. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Mashup feature's handling of external data sources and dynamic content rendering. When users configure Mashup components to display external information, the platform fails to adequately sanitize or encode user-provided parameters before incorporating them into web page output. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can execute within the context of other users' browser sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Mashup functionality is commonly used in enterprise environments where sensitive business data is processed, making the potential impact significant for organizations relying on Pega Platform for mission-critical applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to session manipulation, data theft, and privilege escalation within the application context. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive customer information, manipulate business processes, or gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the Pega environment. Organizations using affected versions may experience unauthorized data access, potential compliance violations, and reputational damage if exploited successfully. The vulnerability's presence across multiple versions of the platform indicates a fundamental flaw in the input validation mechanisms rather than a simple patchable issue, requiring comprehensive remediation across the affected software lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-2161 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Pega Platform versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures for all Mashup configurations and consider disabling Mashup functionality entirely if it is not essential for business operations. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not be considered a complete solution. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all Mashup configurations within their environments and implement monitoring for suspicious activities related to user input handling. Regular security training for developers and administrators on secure coding practices and proper input validation techniques can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in custom implementations. The fix typically involves enhanced output encoding and stricter validation of all user-supplied parameters within the Mashup component, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is properly neutralized before rendering in web contexts.