Overview
CVE-2025-14013 details a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability discovered in JIZHICMS, specifically affecting versions up to 2.5.5. This vulnerability resides within the Comment Handler component, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into the system through the body parameter of the /index.php/admins/Comment/addcomment.html endpoint. The exploit is publicly available, increasing the risk of exploitation. Attempts to contact the vendor regarding this vulnerability were unsuccessful.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization of the body parameter when adding comments via the /index.php/admins/Comment/addcomment.html endpoint. An attacker can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into this parameter, which will then be stored in the database. When a user views the affected comment (e.g., an administrator managing comments), the injected script will execute in their browser context. This is a classic example of a stored XSS vulnerability, as the malicious payload is persistently stored on the server.
The affected component is the Comment Handler, indicating that successful exploitation requires access to the comment submission/management functionality of the JIZHICMS installation.
CVSS Analysis
The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) assigned CVE-2025-14013 a CVSS score of 2.4, indicating a LOW severity. While the vulnerability is exploitable remotely, the low score likely reflects the need for some level of access to the comment functionality and the limited scope of impact.
Key CVSS metrics:
- CVSS Score: 2.4
- Vector: AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
- Explanation: Network attack vector, low attack complexity, high privileges required (suggesting admin access), user interaction required (victim must view the malicious comment), scope unchanged, no confidentiality impact, low integrity impact (attacker can modify some content), no availability impact.
Possible Impact
Although rated as low severity, the potential impact of CVE-2025-14013 should not be disregarded. A successful XSS attack could allow an attacker to:
- Steal administrator cookies and session tokens.
- Deface the website.
- Redirect users to malicious websites.
- Perform actions on behalf of the administrator, potentially leading to further compromise.
The impact is largely dependent on the privileges of the user who views the malicious comment.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
Unfortunately, due to the vendor’s lack of response, no official patch is currently available. Therefore, the following mitigation strategies are recommended:
- Input Sanitization: Implement robust input sanitization and output encoding on the
bodyparameter within the Comment Handler. This should be done on both the client-side (for initial validation) and the server-side (as the definitive security measure). Encode special characters to prevent them from being interpreted as HTML or JavaScript. - Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) to restrict the sources from which the browser can load resources. This can help to mitigate the impact of injected scripts.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter out malicious requests and block common XSS attack patterns.
- Regular Monitoring: Regularly monitor the system for suspicious activity and anomalies.
- Consider Alternatives: If possible, consider migrating to a more actively maintained CMS platform with a better security track record.
Important Note: Prioritize server-side sanitization and encoding, as client-side controls can be easily bypassed.
