CVE-2025-28409 in RuoYi
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2025
An issue in RUoYi v.4.8.0 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via the add method of the /add/{parentId} endpoint does not properly validate whether the requesting user has permission to add a menu item under the specified parentId
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-28409 affects the RUoYi content management system version 4.8.0 and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that directly impacts the application's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability exists within the menu management functionality of the system, specifically in the add method of the /add/{parentId} endpoint. The flaw stems from insufficient authorization validation during the menu creation process, allowing unauthenticated or unauthorized users to potentially add menu items under parent menu IDs that they should not have access to. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security model and demonstrates poor implementation of the principle of least privilege.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the lack of proper permission checking within the API endpoint's backend logic. When a request is made to the /add/{parentId} endpoint, the system fails to verify whether the authenticated user possesses the necessary administrative rights to create menu items under the specified parent menu identifier. This absence of authorization validation creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system's menu hierarchy by crafting requests with arbitrary parent menu IDs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any special privileges or authentication tokens, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the vulnerable endpoint.
The operational impact of this privilege escalation vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential system compromise and data manipulation capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could add malicious menu items, create backdoor access points, or reorganize the application's navigation structure to hide malicious activities. This type of vulnerability directly violates the security principle of access control and can lead to further exploitation opportunities within the system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed through standard web requests, making it easily automated and scalable. The vulnerability also provides attackers with a means to establish persistence within the application's administrative interface, potentially allowing for long-term unauthorized access and control.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-28409 should focus on implementing robust authorization controls within the menu management system. The primary fix involves adding comprehensive permission validation checks before allowing any menu creation operations to proceed. This includes verifying that the requesting user has appropriate administrative privileges for the specific parent menu they are attempting to use as a container for the new menu item. The implementation should follow established security frameworks such as CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and align with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also implement proper input validation, logging of administrative actions, and regular security testing to identify similar authorization flaws. Additionally, the system should enforce mandatory access controls and maintain audit trails of all menu creation activities to detect unauthorized modifications. The fix should be implemented as a comprehensive authorization check that validates both the user's identity and their explicit permissions for the target parent menu before allowing any menu creation operations to proceed, ensuring that all access control decisions are made based on proper authentication and authorization contexts.