CVE-2025-7789 in xxl-job
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2025
A vulnerability was found in Xuxueli xxl-job up to 3.1.1 and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function makeToken of the file src/main/java/com/xxl/job/admin/controller/IndexController.java of the component Token Generation. The manipulation leads to password hash with insufficient computational effort. The attack may be launched remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2025
CVE-2025-7789 represents a significant security weakness in the Xuxueli xxl-job administrative interface affecting versions up to 3.1.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the token generation mechanism within the system's authentication framework, where the makeToken function in IndexController.java demonstrates inadequate cryptographic strength in its password hashing implementation. The flaw allows attackers to exploit weak computational effort in hash calculations, potentially compromising the security of authentication tokens used for administrative access to the job scheduling system. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can target the system without requiring physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the administrative interface may be exposed to external traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient computational effort in the token generation algorithm, which directly relates to CWE-916, "Use of Password Hash with Insufficient Computational Effort." This weakness allows for accelerated brute force attacks against the generated tokens, as the hashing process lacks the necessary computational complexity to resist modern attack methodologies. The attack complexity is rated as high due to the requirement for specialized knowledge in cryptographic analysis and the need to understand the specific implementation details of the xxl-job token system, yet the public disclosure of exploitation techniques has lowered the barrier for potential attackers. The system's exposure through the IndexController.java component means that any remote user capable of accessing the administrative interface can potentially leverage this weakness to forge authentication tokens and gain unauthorized access to critical job scheduling operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-7789 extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to manipulate scheduled jobs, access sensitive job configurations, and potentially disrupt business-critical processes managed by the xxl-job system. Organizations relying on this job scheduling framework for automated tasks, data processing, or system maintenance operations face significant risk of unauthorized modifications to their scheduled workflows. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to T1566.002 "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" or T1078.004 "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" if attackers can leverage stolen tokens for broader system access, though the primary threat vector remains the weak token generation mechanism itself. The difficulty of exploitation, while high, is mitigated by the public availability of exploit information, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with exposed administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-7789 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor's official patch or upgrade to a version that addresses the token generation weakness. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the xxl-job administrative interface, ensuring that only trusted networks can reach the administrative endpoints. Additional defensive measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of the job scheduling system. The implementation of stronger cryptographic hashing algorithms with appropriate computational cost, such as bcrypt with sufficient work factors or PBKDF2 with high iteration counts, should be enforced in the token generation process. Network-level protections such as rate limiting on authentication endpoints and intrusion detection systems monitoring for token-based attack patterns can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar weak cryptographic implementations across their infrastructure and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing token-based authentication compromises.