CVE-2025-24338 in ctrlX OS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/30/2025
A vulnerability in the “Manages app data” functionality of the web application of ctrlX OS allows a remote authenticated (lowprivileged) attacker to execute arbitrary client-side code in the context of another user's browser via multiple crafted HTTP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
This vulnerability resides within the ctrlX OS web application's "Manages app data" functionality, representing a critical client-side code execution flaw that undermines the application's security model. The vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users with low privilege levels who can leverage crafted HTTP requests to inject and execute arbitrary client-side code within another user's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of cross-site scripting attacks and aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The flaw demonstrates a severe lack of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should prevent malicious data from being interpreted as executable code by the browser.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with minimal privileges to craft specific HTTP requests that manipulate the application's data handling processes. When the application processes these malicious requests, it fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied data before rendering it in the browser context. This allows the attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim user's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the affected system. The attack vector operates through the web application's interface where legitimate users interact with the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed without requiring direct access to the underlying system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges and compromise the entire web application environment. An attacker could potentially access sensitive user data, manipulate application functionality, or use the compromised session to gain further access to other system components. This vulnerability particularly affects the principle of least privilege and demonstrates how even low-privileged authenticated users can leverage application flaws to cause significant damage. The attack can be particularly effective in environments where users have varying levels of access and where session management is not properly enforced, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling processes. The solution requires strict sanitization of all user-supplied data before it is processed or rendered in the browser context, implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, and ensuring proper session management controls are in place. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, and establish regular security testing procedures including dynamic application security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, emphasizing the need for robust client-side security measures in modern web applications.