Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

CVE-2025-54348: Critical Stored XSS Vulnerability in Desktop Alert PingAlert Enables Account Hijacking

Overview

A critical Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-54348, has been discovered in the Application Server of Desktop Alert PingAlert versions 6.1.0.11 to 6.1.1.2. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to inject malicious scripts into the application, potentially hijacking user accounts and capturing sensitive information.

Technical Details

The vulnerability lies in the insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the Desktop Alert PingAlert application server. An attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code that is then stored on the server. When a user interacts with the affected application feature, the stored XSS payload is executed within their browser. This can lead to a variety of malicious actions, including:

  • Stealing session cookies
  • Redirecting users to phishing websites
  • Defacing the application
  • Modifying user data
  • Executing arbitrary code within the user’s browser

The exact injection point and vulnerable parameters are not publicly disclosed beyond the general description to prevent further exploitation before patching.

CVSS Analysis

While the CVE entry currently lists the Severity and CVSS Score as N/A, given the nature of a Stored XSS vulnerability that can lead to account compromise, it is expected that once assessed, the CVSS score will likely be HIGH, potentially falling in the 7.0-9.0 range depending on the exploitability and impact details not yet publicly available. A complete CVSS vector string is pending assignment.

Possible Impact

The successful exploitation of this vulnerability could have severe consequences:

  • Account Compromise: Attackers can hijack user accounts, gaining access to sensitive information and potentially performing actions on behalf of the compromised user.
  • Data Breach: Stolen cookies can be used to gain unauthorized access to the application and potentially sensitive data.
  • Reputation Damage: A successful attack can damage the reputation of the organization using Desktop Alert PingAlert.
  • Malware Distribution: Attackers can use the compromised application to distribute malware to unsuspecting users.

Mitigation and Patch Steps

Users of Desktop Alert PingAlert versions 6.1.0.11 to 6.1.1.2 are strongly advised to take the following steps:

  1. Apply the Patch: Check the Desktop Alert website for the latest security patches and apply them immediately.
  2. Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement or update your WAF rules to filter out common XSS attack patterns. This provides an additional layer of defense.
  3. Input Validation: Ensure all user inputs are properly validated and sanitized to prevent the injection of malicious scripts. (This is a recommendation for Desktop Alert’s developers, but users may benefit from checking any custom integrations)
  4. Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement a strict CSP to control the resources that the browser is allowed to load, mitigating the impact of XSS attacks.
  5. User Awareness: Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or entering sensitive information on untrusted websites.

References

Desktop Alert Official Website
Desktop Alert CVE-2025-54348 Information

Cybersecurity specialist and founder of Gowri Shankar Infosec - a professional blog dedicated to sharing actionable insights on cybersecurity, data protection, server administration, and compliance frameworks including SOC 2, PCI DSS, and GDPR.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *