CVE-2025-71457 in Vtenext
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2026
vtenext 25.02 before 25.02.1 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to change any account password via hub/rpwd.php without token verification. Attackers knowing a valid user_name can send action=change_password to RecoverPwd::displayChangePwd() and log in as administrators lacking two-factor authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the vtexxt application, specifically affecting versions prior to 25.02.1, where a critical authentication bypass mechanism is exposed through the hub/rpwd.php endpoint. This vulnerability stems from an insufficient verification of session tokens or anti-CSRF mechanisms during password recovery operations. In secure web applications, any action that modifies sensitive account data, such as changing a user's password, must be protected by robust token validation to ensure that the request originates from a legitimate and authenticated context. However, in this implementation, the RecoverPwd::displayChangePwd() function accepts an action parameter set to change_password without enforcing strict token verification. This architectural oversight allows unauthenticated actors to interact directly with the backend logic responsible for credential modification, effectively bypassing standard authentication gates that would normally require valid session cookies or multi-factor credentials before permitting such changes.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a classic case of broken access control where the server fails to properly validate the integrity and origin of user-supplied input during state-changing operations. An attacker who possesses knowledge of a valid username can craft a specific HTTP request targeting the rpwd.php script with the appropriate parameters to trigger the password change routine. Because the system does not verify that this action is part of an authorized, ongoing session or protected by a unique cryptographic token generated at login, it treats the malicious request as legitimate. This lack of server-side validation for critical actions enables remote code execution in terms of account takeover, allowing the attacker to reset credentials without needing prior authentication or possession of the original password.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly when combined with weak security configurations on target systems. If an administrator account lacks two-factor authentication enabled, which remains common in many legacy deployments or misconfigured environments, the ability to change any account password translates directly into full administrative access. Once the attacker has reset the password for a privileged user, they can log in using standard credentials and gain unrestricted control over the application's data and functionality. This leads to potential confidentiality breaches of sensitive business information, integrity violations through unauthorized modifications or deletions, and availability issues if malicious actions are performed post-compromise. The ease of exploitation means that automated scanning tools could rapidly identify vulnerable instances across the internet, leading to widespread compromise in unpatched environments.
To mitigate this risk, immediate patching is required by upgrading vtexxt to version 25.02.1 or later where these token verification checks have been implemented correctly. In addition to software updates, organizations should enforce strict multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts and any users with elevated privileges to add a secondary layer of defense against credential-based attacks. Implementing robust anti-CSRF tokens on all forms that modify sensitive data is also essential to prevent unauthorized state changes. Furthermore, security teams should review their access control policies to ensure that password reset mechanisms are tightly coupled with verified user sessions or out-of-band verification methods such as email confirmation codes, ensuring that only the legitimate account holder can initiate credential recovery processes.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 Improper Authentication and CWE-352 Cross-Site Request Forgery due to the lack of token validation for state-changing operations. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as attackers leverage known usernames to gain unauthorized access by manipulating authentication flows rather than breaking cryptographic algorithms directly. The exploitation path demonstrates how missing input validation on critical endpoints can undermine entire security architectures, emphasizing the need for rigorous code review and automated testing focused on authorization checks in web application development lifecycles.