CVE-2025-53543 in kestra
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2025
Kestra is an event-driven orchestration platform. The error message in execution "Overview" tab is vulnerable to stored XSS due to improper handling of HTTP response received. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.22.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-53543 affects Kestra, an event-driven orchestration platform that enables users to create complex workflows and automate business processes. This platform serves as a central hub for managing various automated tasks and workflows, making it a critical component in enterprise environments where process automation and data flow management are essential. The vulnerability manifests within the execution "Overview" tab functionality, which displays detailed information about workflow executions and their associated error messages. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the platform's error handling system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent cross-site scripting payloads.
The technical flaw represents a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability classified under CWE-079, which occurs when a web application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing and subsequently rendering it in web pages. In this case, the error messages generated during workflow execution contain user-provided data that is not adequately escaped or filtered before being displayed in the Overview tab. When an attacker crafts a malicious error message containing XSS payloads and triggers the execution of a workflow that produces this error, the malicious script gets stored within the application's database or storage system. Subsequently, any user who views the Overview tab for that execution will execute the stored malicious script within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it compromises the integrity of the entire orchestration platform. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive workflow data, manipulate execution results, or escalate privileges within the system. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payloads persist even after the initial execution, allowing attackers to maintain access and cause ongoing damage. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on workflow automation and process orchestration, as it undermines the trustworthiness of the platform's execution monitoring capabilities and potentially exposes critical business processes to manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-53543 involve immediate deployment of the patched version 0.22.0, which implements proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms for error messages. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security assessments of the platform's input validation logic, monitoring for suspicious error message patterns, and implementing content security policies to limit the potential impact of any remaining vulnerabilities. The fix aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves credential access through social engineering, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to harvest session tokens or other sensitive information. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation layers as additional protective measures. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing of the orchestration platform will help identify similar issues in other components and ensure comprehensive security coverage throughout the system's attack surface.