CVE-2025-23716 in Login Watchdog Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in NotFound Login Watchdog allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Login Watchdog: from n/a through 1.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2025
The CVE-2025-23716 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the NotFound Login Watchdog plugin, specifically targeting versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 1.0.4. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating a persistent security risk that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw manifests as a stored XSS vulnerability, meaning that malicious code injected by an attacker can be permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are loaded by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the login watchdog functionality, which is designed to monitor and log authentication attempts, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited during the very authentication process that administrators rely on for system security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs that are subsequently rendered in web page contexts without proper encoding or escaping mechanisms. When users interact with the login watchdog functionality, their inputs may be stored in the system and later displayed in web interfaces without appropriate security measures to prevent script execution. This flaw directly aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows attackers to inject executable code into web pages viewed by other users. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads can persist indefinitely until manually removed, making it particularly dangerous for long-running systems where the attack surface remains continuously exposed. The vulnerability could be exploited through various input vectors including login attempts, user profile information, or any other data that gets stored and subsequently rendered in web contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-23716 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive user sessions and system information. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal authentication credentials, access sensitive data, or perform unauthorized actions within the affected system. The vulnerability affects not only end users but also system administrators who may be logged into the watchdog interface, creating a potential attack vector that could compromise the entire authentication monitoring system. Organizations relying on this plugin for security monitoring may find their defensive capabilities undermined, as attackers could use the stored XSS to manipulate the watchdog's own output or even redirect users to malicious sites. The persistence of the vulnerability means that even after initial exploitation, the threat remains active, potentially allowing attackers to maintain access over extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-23716 should prioritize immediate remediation through patch updates from the vendor, as this represents a critical security flaw that requires urgent attention. System administrators should implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the storage and execution of malicious scripts, following the principle of least privilege in input handling. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against script execution, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify other potential input handling vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that may indicate XSS attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive input sanitization across all user-facing interfaces, particularly in security monitoring tools where the integrity of logged data is paramount. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the web application stack, as this represents a common pattern of security flaws that can be systematically addressed through proper coding practices and security controls.