Overview
CVE-2025-34257 describes a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Advantech WISE-DeviceOn Server versions prior to 5.4. This vulnerability exists within the /rmm/v1/action/defined endpoint. An authenticated attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code into the defined_name field when creating a task. This code is then stored by the server and executed in the browser of other users who view the task’s Overview page, leading to potential session hijacking and unauthorized actions.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper HTML sanitization of the defined_name value. When an authenticated user creates a new task within the WISE-DeviceOn Server, the provided defined_name is stored directly in the database. When another user views the task’s overview, this stored value is rendered without being properly encoded or sanitized. This allows an attacker to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code, which is then executed within the context of the victim’s browser.
Specifically, the attacker crafts a malicious payload containing JavaScript that can steal cookies, redirect the user to a phishing page, or perform actions on behalf of the user without their knowledge or consent.
CVSS Analysis
As of the publication date, the CVSS score and severity for CVE-2025-34257 are not available (N/A). However, considering the nature of stored XSS vulnerabilities, the potential impact could be significant. A successful exploit could lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potentially the entire WISE-DeviceOn Server instance.
Factors influencing the CVSS score would likely include:
- Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) – Requires network access to the vulnerable application.
- Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – Exploitation is relatively easy.
- Privileges Required: Low (PR:L) – Requires authentication but with minimal privileges.
- User Interaction: Required (UI:R) – Requires a victim to view the affected task overview.
- Scope: Changed (S:C) – An exploited vulnerability can affect resources beyond the attacker’s control.
- Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H) – Sensitive information could be exposed.
- Integrity Impact: High (I:H) – Data could be modified or deleted.
- Availability Impact: None (A:N) – System availability is likely not directly impacted.
Based on these factors, a likely CVSS score would be in the high range (7.0-8.9).
Possible Impact
The exploitation of this vulnerability can have severe consequences:
- Account Takeover: Attackers can steal user session cookies and impersonate legitimate users.
- Data Theft: Sensitive data displayed within the WISE-DeviceOn Server can be exfiltrated.
- Malware Distribution: The injected script can redirect users to malicious websites or initiate the download of malware.
- Defacement: The attacker can modify the appearance of the application for other users.
- Privilege Escalation: In some cases, this vulnerability could be chained with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to upgrade Advantech WISE-DeviceOn Server to version 5.4 or later. This version contains a patch that addresses the XSS vulnerability by properly sanitizing the defined_name input field.
If upgrading is not immediately feasible, consider the following temporary mitigation steps:
- Input Validation: Implement strict input validation on the server-side to sanitize the
defined_namefield, removing or encoding potentially malicious characters before storing it in the database. - Output Encoding: Ensure that all data retrieved from the database and displayed in the user interface is properly HTML-encoded to prevent the execution of injected scripts.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF that can detect and block XSS attacks targeting the
/rmm/v1/action/definedendpoint.
