CVE-2025-48490 in laravel-rest-api
Summary
by MITRE • 05/30/2025
Laravel Rest Api is an API generator. Prior to version 2.13.0, a validation bypass vulnerability was discovered where multiple validations defined for the same attribute could be silently overridden. Due to how the framework merged validation rules across multiple contexts (such as index, store, and update actions), malicious actors could exploit this behavior by crafting requests that bypass expected validation rules, potentially injecting unexpected or dangerous parameters into the application. This could lead to unauthorized data being accepted or processed by the API, depending on the context in which the validation was bypassed. This issue has been patched in version 2.13.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48490 affects Laravel Rest Api, a framework designed to generate RESTful APIs for web applications. This security flaw exists in versions prior to 2.13.0 and represents a critical validation bypass issue that undermines the integrity of the application's input sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from how the framework handles validation rule merging across different operational contexts within the API, specifically during index, store, and update actions. When multiple validation rules are defined for the same attribute, the framework's merging logic fails to properly enforce all specified validations, creating a potential attack surface where malicious actors can exploit this behavior to circumvent security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft specially designed requests that exploit the rule merging process to silently override validation constraints. This occurs because the framework does not properly maintain the integrity of validation rules when they are processed across different contexts, enabling a scenario where validation rules defined for one operation context may be superseded by rules from another context. The flaw operates at the application logic level where the framework's validation system should enforce consistent security policies but instead permits rule conflicts that can be manipulated by adversaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-692 weakness category, which specifically addresses incomplete validation rule merging or consolidation that can lead to security bypasses. The behavior creates a scenario where the framework's intended security controls become ineffective, allowing potentially dangerous input to pass through validation checks that should have rejected it.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to encompass potential unauthorized data processing and system compromise. When validation rules are bypassed, malicious actors can inject unexpected parameters that may not be properly sanitized or validated, leading to various security implications including data manipulation, unauthorized access, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the application's architecture and data handling practices. The vulnerability particularly affects applications that rely on the framework's automated validation mechanisms, where the bypass could enable attackers to submit data that would normally be rejected based on security policies. This creates a risk of data corruption, unauthorized modifications, or privilege escalation depending on how the application processes the bypassed input. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts, as the bypassed validation may allow attackers to manipulate application behavior through seemingly legitimate but improperly validated inputs.
Mitigation of this vulnerability requires immediate upgrading to version 2.13.0 or later, where the framework properly addresses the validation rule merging behavior. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any applications using affected versions and implement comprehensive testing to ensure that validation rules are properly enforced across all operational contexts. The fix implemented in version 2.13.0 resolves the core issue by ensuring that validation rules are properly maintained and not silently overridden during the merging process. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous API request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining proper input validation logging to track validation rule enforcement. Additionally, organizations should review their API security configurations and ensure that defense-in-depth measures are implemented to minimize the impact if similar vulnerabilities are discovered in other components of their application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper rule management in security frameworks and highlights the need for rigorous testing of validation logic in multi-context applications.