Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

CVE-2025-63401: Critical XSS Vulnerability Discovered in HCLTech DRAGON

Overview

CVE-2025-63401 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in HCL Technologies Limited’s HCLTech DRAGON software, affecting versions prior to 7.6.0. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of a user’s browser session. The root cause lies in missing directives that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input, opening a door for malicious script injection.

Technical Details

The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the HCLTech DRAGON application. Specifically, certain user-supplied data is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered in a web page. An attacker can exploit this by injecting malicious JavaScript code into a field or parameter that is later displayed to other users. When a victim visits the page containing the injected script, the script will execute, potentially allowing the attacker to steal cookies, redirect the user to a phishing site, or perform other malicious actions on behalf of the user.

CVSS Analysis

  • CVE ID: CVE-2025-63401
  • Severity: MEDIUM
  • CVSS Score: 5.5

A CVSS score of 5.5 indicates a medium severity. This score reflects the fact that while the vulnerability requires user interaction (e.g., visiting a malicious link or interacting with compromised content), the potential impact can be significant if successfully exploited. The attack vector is network-based, requiring the attacker to inject malicious code remotely.

Possible Impact

Successful exploitation of this XSS vulnerability could lead to several negative consequences:

  • Account Takeover: An attacker could steal user session cookies and hijack user accounts.
  • Data Theft: Sensitive information displayed within the application could be accessed and exfiltrated by the attacker.
  • Malware Distribution: The attacker could redirect users to websites hosting malware, infecting their systems.
  • Defacement: The attacker could modify the appearance of the affected web pages, causing reputational damage to the organization.

Mitigation and Patch Steps

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-63401, it is strongly recommended to take the following steps:

  1. Upgrade to Version 7.6.0 or Later: HCL Technologies Limited has released version 7.6.0 of HCLTech DRAGON, which includes a patch to address this XSS vulnerability. Upgrade your installation as soon as possible.
  2. Input Validation: Implement robust input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent malicious code from being injected into the application.
  3. Output Encoding: Ensure that all user-supplied data is properly encoded before being displayed on web pages. This will prevent browsers from interpreting the data as executable code.
  4. Web Application Firewall (WAF): Consider deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block XSS attacks. Configure the WAF with rules to identify and filter out malicious input.
  5. Security Awareness Training: Educate users about the risks of XSS vulnerabilities and how to recognize and avoid phishing attacks.

References

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.

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