Overview
CVE-2025-13803 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting MediaCrush versions 1.0.0 and 1.0.1. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to inject arbitrary HTTP headers by manipulating the Host header, potentially leading to various security risks.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the /mediacrush/paths.py file, specifically within an unknown function of the Header Handler component. By crafting a malicious Host header, an attacker can bypass input sanitization and inject arbitrary HTTP headers. This improper neutralization of HTTP headers for scripting syntax enables the attacker to influence server-side behavior.
The vulnerable code does not adequately sanitize the Host header, allowing an attacker to insert newline characters and other control characters that can be interpreted as separate HTTP headers. This can lead to HTTP response splitting and other related attacks.
CVSS Analysis
- CVSS Score: 7.3 (High)
- Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
- Explanation: This score reflects the ease of exploitation (no user interaction required, can be launched remotely) and the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While not the highest possible score, a 7.3 indicates a significant risk that needs to be addressed promptly.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-13803 can have several serious consequences:
- HTTP Response Splitting: An attacker can inject malicious content into HTTP responses, potentially leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
- Cache Poisoning: By manipulating HTTP headers, an attacker can poison the server’s cache, serving malicious content to legitimate users.
- Session Hijacking: Depending on the application’s session management, an attacker might be able to hijack user sessions.
- Information Disclosure: Sensitive information contained in HTTP headers could be exposed to the attacker.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
To mitigate this vulnerability, the following steps are recommended:
- Apply the Patch: Upgrade MediaCrush to a patched version that includes proper input sanitization for the
Hostheader. Check the MediaCrush project website for updates and security advisories. - Input Sanitization: Implement robust input sanitization techniques to prevent the injection of malicious characters, particularly newline characters and other control characters, into HTTP headers.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block HTTP header injection attempts.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in your applications.
