Overview
A critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-65657, has been discovered in FeehiCMS version 2.1.1. This vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server through unrestricted file uploads within the ad management feature. By uploading a malicious PHP file, an attacker can gain complete control of the affected system. It’s crucial to understand the technical details, potential impact, and implement the recommended mitigation steps to protect your FeehiCMS installation.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of uploaded files within the ad management module of FeehiCMS 2.1.1. An authenticated user with the necessary permissions can upload files to the server. The system fails to adequately check the file type and content, allowing an attacker to upload a specially crafted PHP file. This file, when accessed, will be executed by the web server, enabling remote code execution. The issue specifically lies in the lack of restrictions placed on the execution of files stored in executable locations.
Specifically, the attack exploits the following weakness:
- Unrestricted File Upload: The application does not properly validate file types and content during the upload process in the ad management section.
- Lack of Execution Restrictions: The server executes (or stores in an executable location) uploaded files without sufficient restrictions, leading to code execution.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the CVSS score for CVE-2025-65657 is not available (N/A). However, due to the nature of Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities, it is expected to receive a critical severity rating. A high CVSS score indicates the vulnerability’s potential for widespread impact and ease of exploitation.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-65657 can have severe consequences, including:
- Complete System Compromise: An attacker can gain full control of the server hosting the FeehiCMS application.
- Data Breach: Sensitive data stored on the server, including user credentials and database information, could be accessed and stolen.
- Malware Distribution: The compromised server can be used to distribute malware to visitors of the website.
- Denial of Service (DoS): The attacker could disrupt the availability of the website by crashing the server or launching resource-intensive attacks.
- Website Defacement: The attacker could modify the website’s content, causing reputational damage.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-65657, the following steps are recommended:
- Upgrade FeehiCMS: Check the official FeehiCMS repository for a patched version that addresses this vulnerability. Upgrade to the latest version as soon as it becomes available.
- Implement File Type Validation: Implement strict file type validation on the server-side to ensure that only allowed file types (e.g., images) can be uploaded. Use a whitelist approach rather than a blacklist.
- Sanitize Uploaded File Names: Sanitize uploaded file names to prevent malicious code from being injected into the file name.
- Restrict File Execution: Configure the web server to prevent the execution of PHP files in the upload directory. This can be achieved through configuration directives like `.htaccess` (for Apache) or similar configurations for other web servers.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits of your FeehiCMS installation to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious requests, including those attempting to exploit this vulnerability.
