CVE-2025-23845 in ImageMeta Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ERA404 ImageMeta allows Reflected XSS. This issue affects ImageMeta: from n/a through 1.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23845 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ERA404 ImageMeta plugin, specifically targeting the reflected XSS category of web application vulnerabilities. This issue stems from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code within user browsers. The vulnerability affects all versions of ImageMeta from the initial release through version 1.1.2, indicating a prolonged exposure window that could have allowed extensive exploitation. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are executed as part of a request that is reflected off the web server, typically through URL parameters or form fields that are not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages. This particular flaw resides in the web application's input handling mechanisms where user-supplied data is not adequately neutralized before being incorporated into dynamically generated web content, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that gets reflected back to users through the web application's response, bypassing standard security measures that would normally prevent script execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in victim browsers. The flaw manifests when the ImageMeta plugin fails to properly escape or validate input parameters before incorporating them into HTML output, allowing attackers to inject JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The reflected XSS nature means that the malicious payload must be delivered through a crafted URL or request that the victim's browser will then execute upon loading the page, making this particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input through URL parameters or other dynamic content generation methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate web page content, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access user sessions, credentials, or other sensitive data that might be present in the user's browser context. The reflected XSS attack vector allows for rapid deployment of malicious payloads that can be delivered through various means including phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns that direct users to specifically crafted URLs. This vulnerability can significantly compromise user trust and application integrity, potentially leading to data breaches, account takeovers, or unauthorized access to sensitive information within the web application's ecosystem. The widespread nature of this vulnerability across multiple versions of the ImageMeta plugin suggests that organizations using this software may be exposed to persistent threats without proper patching or mitigation strategies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-23845 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ImageMeta versions, with administrators upgrading to the latest available release that addresses the input sanitization flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the reflection of untrusted data back to users, utilizing proper escaping techniques for HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within web applications, while application firewalls and web application security monitoring solutions can help detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this type of vulnerability. Security teams should also establish proper incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts and maintain detailed logging of user interactions that might indicate attempted XSS attacks, ensuring comprehensive monitoring of web application traffic for suspicious patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.