CVE-2025-41056 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[Addon][layouts]' and 'data[Addon][layouts_except]' parameters in /apprain/developer/addons/update/hysontable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-41056 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the appRain Content Management Framework version 4.0.5. This security weakness resides in the administrative backend functionality, specifically within the addon management module where user input is processed through the '/apprain/developer/addons/update/hysontable' endpoint. The vulnerability manifests when authenticated administrators interact with the system's addon configuration interface, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal prerequisites for exploitation. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before storing it within the application's database. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that malicious input persists in the system and can be executed whenever the affected data is rendered to other authenticated users, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple victims over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stored XSS attack pattern where malicious JavaScript code can be injected through the 'data[Addon][layouts]' and 'data[Addon][layouts_except]' parameters. These parameters are designed to accept configuration data for addon layouts, but the application fails to implement proper input sanitization or output encoding before storing and subsequently rendering this data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates how insufficient validation of user-supplied data can lead to unauthorized code execution. When an authenticated user accesses the affected addon management interface or views pages that render the stored malicious content, the injected JavaScript code executes in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a potential attack chain where malicious actors can leverage the authenticated session to perform actions on behalf of victims, potentially escalating to full system compromise depending on the privileges of the affected users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the application environment through various attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, inject malicious content into the application interface, or even perform administrative actions if the compromised user has elevated privileges. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack can be executed repeatedly without requiring the attacker to re-inject the malicious payload, making it particularly dangerous for long-term compromise. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and availability, as malicious code can modify user interfaces or redirect traffic, potentially leading to data exfiltration or further system exploitation. This flaw can be exploited in conjunction with other techniques to create more sophisticated attacks, such as credential harvesting or privilege escalation, particularly if the affected application is used by administrators with elevated access rights.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-41056 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The primary fix involves sanitizing and escaping all user-supplied input before storing it in the database, with particular attention to the specific parameters mentioned in the vulnerability description. Implementing proper Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth against XSS exploitation by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Organizations should also ensure that the appRain CMF is updated to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, as the developers have likely implemented proper input validation and sanitization measures. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other parts of the application. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and monitoring user activities within the administrative interface can help detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly in the context of web application security where input validation and output encoding are fundamental defensive measures.