Overview
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of CVE-2025-63828, a Host Header Injection vulnerability affecting Backdrop CMS version 1.32.1. This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the Host header during password reset requests, potentially redirecting users to malicious domains. This can lead to successful phishing attacks and even session hijacking through cookie injection.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides within the password reset functionality of Backdrop CMS 1.32.1. By manipulating the HTTP Host header, an attacker can influence the domain used when generating the password reset link. When a user requests a password reset, the system utilizes the Host header to construct the URL sent in the reset email. An attacker-controlled Host header can therefore cause the email to contain a link to a malicious domain disguised as the legitimate Backdrop CMS site.
This crafted link can then redirect the user to a phishing page designed to steal their credentials. Furthermore, the attacker could potentially inject cookies associated with the malicious domain, potentially leading to session hijacking if the user subsequently visits the legitimate Backdrop CMS site.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, a CVSS score and severity rating are not available (N/A) for CVE-2025-63828. This likely indicates that the vulnerability is newly discovered or that a complete risk assessment hasn’t been performed by the relevant authorities. However, based on the potential impact, it is likely to be classified as a high-severity vulnerability once a score is assigned.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-63828 can have significant consequences:
- Credential Theft: Users may be tricked into entering their credentials on a fake login page, giving attackers access to their accounts.
- Session Hijacking: Attackers could potentially inject cookies, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the Backdrop CMS application.
- Reputation Damage: A successful attack can severely damage the reputation of the website and the organization behind it.
- Data Breach: Depending on the user’s access level, a compromised account could lead to a data breach.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, a specific patch for CVE-2025-63828 may not be readily available. Therefore, the following mitigation steps are recommended:
- Upgrade Backdrop CMS: Immediately upgrade to the latest version of Backdrop CMS as soon as a patch addressing this vulnerability is released. Monitor the official Backdrop CMS security announcements for updates.
- Input Validation and Sanitization: Implement robust input validation and sanitization of the Host header within the password reset functionality. Ensure that the Host header is validated against a whitelist of allowed domains.
- Configuration Review: Review your Backdrop CMS configuration to ensure that all security settings are properly configured.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) and configure it to filter out malicious requests targeting the Host header. WAF rules can be implemented to detect and block attempts to manipulate the Host header.
- User Awareness Training: Educate users about the risks of phishing attacks and how to identify suspicious emails and links.
References
- GitHub Repository – Proof of Concept Code
- Exploit Details – Detailed explanation of how to exploit the vulnerability.
