CVE-2025-23393 in Manager Server Module
Summary
by MITRE • 05/27/2025
A Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in spacewalk-java allows execution of arbitrary Javascript code on users machines.This issue affects Container suse/manager/5.0/x86_64/server:5.0.4.7.19.1: from ? before 5.0.24-150600.3.25.1; SUSE Manager Server Module 4.3: from ? before 4.3.85-150400.3.105.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security of web applications by allowing malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary javascript code within user browsers. The issue manifests as improper neutralization of script-related html tags in web pages, specifically within the spacewalk-java component of SUSE Manager systems. This weakness creates an exploitable entry point where attackers can craft malicious input that gets rendered as executable javascript code rather than being properly sanitized or escaped. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the basic level of html tag neutralization, indicating fundamental flaws in input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should prevent such code injection scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data that flows into web page content without proper html escaping or context-aware encoding. When the spacewalk-java application processes user input and incorporates it into dynamic html content, it fails to adequately neutralize potentially dangerous script tags or javascript execution contexts. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can execute within the browser context of authenticated users, leveraging their privileges to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability affects specific container versions and module releases, indicating that certain build configurations or code versions contain the flawed html processing logic while others may have implemented proper sanitization measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected system. Attackers can leverage this weakness to manipulate user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users with potentially elevated privileges. The specific affected versions suggest that this vulnerability existed in multiple release streams of SUSE Manager, indicating that organizations running these versions face significant risk of exploitation. The presence of this vulnerability in containerized environments particularly amplifies the risk as it can affect entire deployment pipelines and automated systems that rely on the manager platform.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the affected container images and module releases, as well as implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures. The remediation strategy must address both the immediate patching requirements and the underlying architectural issues that allowed the vulnerability to persist. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of affected systems to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement monitoring for suspicious activities. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, deploying web application firewalls, and ensuring proper input sanitization across all user-facing interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent html injection attacks through proper context-aware encoding and validation mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access within compromised environments.