CVE-2025-41037 in CMF
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2025
A vulnerability has been discovered in appRain CMF version 4.0.5, consisting of a stored authenticated XSS due to a lack of proper validation of user input, through the 'data[FileManager][search]' parameter in /apprain/admin/filemanager.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-41037 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the appRain Content Management Framework version 4.0.5. This security weakness specifically manifests through the 'data[FileManager][search]' parameter within the administrative file manager component located at /apprain/admin/filemanager. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-provided data before processing and storage within the application's database. This particular flaw affects authenticated users who possess administrative privileges, making it particularly concerning as it requires minimal escalation to exploit. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads injected through the vulnerable parameter are persisted in the system and subsequently executed whenever the affected page is accessed by other authenticated users. This creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple users over time.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the established patterns of stored XSS attacks as classified under CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a security flaw allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative file manager interface where users can search for files, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise administrator sessions. When an authenticated user accesses the file manager page, the malicious script stored in the database executes within their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. The flaw demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and inadequate output encoding mechanisms that are fundamental requirements in secure web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-41037 extends beyond immediate session hijacking capabilities, as it provides attackers with persistent access to administrative functions within the appRain CMF. This vulnerability can be leveraged to escalate privileges, modify content, delete files, or access sensitive administrative data. The stored nature of the exploit means that even if individual users are not immediately compromised, the malicious payload remains active in the system until manually removed. Attackers can craft sophisticated payloads that persistently target multiple administrators over time, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments. The administrative access gained through this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the affected application resides.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-41037 should prioritize immediate patching of the appRain CMF to version 4.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. Organizations should implement proper input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side filtering, ensuring that all user-provided data undergoes strict sanitization before being stored or processed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on parameter handling within administrative interfaces and implement automated scanning tools to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application stack. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be performed to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls and to identify potential new attack vectors that may emerge from similar input validation weaknesses. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts targeting this or similar vulnerabilities.