CVE-2025-55014 in YouDao Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/04/2025
The YouDao plugin for StarDict, as used in stardict 3.0.7+git20220909+dfsg-6 in Debian trixie and elsewhere, sends an X11 selection to the dict.youdao.com and dict.cn servers via cleartext HTTP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-55014 affects the YouDao plugin within the StarDict dictionary application version 3.0.7+git20220909+dfsg-6, which is distributed in Debian trixie and other systems. This issue stems from the plugin's implementation of network communication with online dictionary services, specifically targeting the dict.youdao.com and dict.cn servers. The flaw manifests when the plugin attempts to transmit user-selected text through X11 selection mechanisms to these remote services, creating a security exposure that impacts both confidentiality and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves cleartext HTTP communication channels that lack encryption mechanisms to protect sensitive data during transmission. When users select text within the StarDict application, the YouDao plugin intercepts this selection and forwards it to the remote dictionary servers without employing secure communication protocols such as HTTPS or TLS encryption. This cleartext transmission exposes the transmitted data to potential interception, modification, or eavesdropping attacks on the network. The vulnerability specifically relates to the improper handling of network communications in the plugin's code implementation, where sensitive user data is sent over unencrypted channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks and data manipulation. Attackers positioned within the network path between the user's system and the remote dictionary servers can intercept the cleartext HTTP requests containing user-selected text. This exposure allows for potential information leakage, where sensitive or private information may be captured during dictionary lookups. The vulnerability also enables possible injection attacks where malicious actors could modify the transmitted data to redirect users to spoofed dictionary services or inject malicious content into the lookup responses.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with common weaknesses documented in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog under categories related to insufficient encryption and cleartext transmission of sensitive data. The flaw represents a failure to implement proper secure communication protocols and demonstrates poor security practices in network implementation. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique involving credential dumping and data interception through unencrypted network communications, potentially enabling further exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability also reflects issues in the principle of least privilege and secure data handling practices, as the application unnecessarily exposes user data during routine dictionary lookup operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing secure communication protocols throughout the plugin's network interactions. The primary recommendation involves upgrading the YouDao plugin to utilize HTTPS encryption for all communications with remote dictionary servers, ensuring that all data transmission occurs over encrypted channels. System administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and alert on cleartext HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid using the affected plugin in environments where network security cannot be guaranteed, and organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure to potential attackers. Regular security audits of third-party plugins and applications should be conducted to identify similar cleartext transmission vulnerabilities that could compromise user data confidentiality and system integrity.