CVE-2025-50976 in IPFire
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2025
IPFire 2.29 DNS management interface (dns.cgi) fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input in the NAMESERVER, REMARK, and TLS_HOSTNAME query parameters, resulting in a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-50976 resides within the IPFire 2.29 firewall distribution's DNS management interface, specifically in the dns.cgi script that handles domain name system configuration. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of the web-based administrative interface. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate and sanitize user-provided data submitted through three distinct query parameters: NAMESERVER, REMARK, and TLS_HOSTNAME. These parameters are typically used by administrators to configure DNS server settings, add descriptive remarks to configurations, and specify TLS hostnames for secure connections. The failure to implement proper input sanitization creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can inject arbitrary script code into the web interface, leading to potential compromise of the administrative session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user's browser without being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous in administrative contexts where privileged access is involved. Attackers can craft specially formatted URLs containing malicious JavaScript payloads that, when clicked by an authenticated administrator, execute in the context of the admin's session. The vulnerability affects the DNS management interface specifically because it processes user input directly into HTML output without proper encoding or validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-50976 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the IPFire environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal administrative credentials, modify DNS configurations to redirect traffic, or establish persistent access through the compromised administrative interface. The reflected XSS nature means that exploitation requires social engineering to convince administrators to click malicious links, but once executed, the attack can be highly effective due to the elevated privileges associated with the administrative interface. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of the firewall's security posture, particularly in environments where IPFire serves as a critical network security component.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-50976 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the dns.cgi script. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper HTML encoding before rendering it in the web interface, ensuring that any potentially malicious script content is neutralized. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability, as this vulnerability affects the specific IPFire 2.29 release and likely impacts other versions that share similar code patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing, highlighting the need for both technical controls and user awareness training to prevent successful exploitation attempts.