Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

CVE-2025-13174: WeRSS Webhook SSRF Vulnerability – A Deep Dive and Mitigation Strategies

Overview

CVE-2025-13174 is a medium-severity Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability affecting the WeRSS we-mp-rss plugin, specifically versions up to 1.4.7. This flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially manipulate the application to make requests to arbitrary internal or external endpoints, potentially leading to sensitive data exposure, internal service access, or further exploitation.

Technical Details

The vulnerability resides within the do_job function of the /rachelos/we-mp-rss/blob/main/jobs/mps.py file, part of the Webhook Module. By manipulating the web_hook_url argument, an attacker can force the server to make requests to URLs they control. This can be achieved by sending crafted data to the application, triggering the vulnerable function. Public exploits are already available, increasing the risk of exploitation.

CVSS Analysis

  • CVSS Score: 6.3 (Medium)
  • This score reflects the potential for remote exploitation without requiring high privileges. While the impact might be limited depending on the network configuration and internal services, the ease of exploitation makes it a significant concern.

Possible Impact

A successful SSRF attack can have several serious consequences:

  • Internal Service Access: An attacker could access internal services that are not directly exposed to the internet, such as databases, APIs, or administrative interfaces.
  • Sensitive Data Exposure: The attacker might be able to retrieve sensitive information from internal systems or external APIs.
  • Port Scanning: The attacker could use the vulnerable server to scan internal networks and identify other vulnerable systems.
  • Denial of Service (DoS): By targeting internal services or external resources, an attacker could potentially cause a denial of service.

Mitigation and Patch Steps

To mitigate the risk of CVE-2025-13174, the following steps are recommended:

  • Update the WeRSS Plugin: Upgrade to the latest version of the we-mp-rss plugin as soon as a patch is released by the developer. Check the official WeRSS plugin page for updates.
  • Input Validation and Sanitization: Implement strict input validation and sanitization for the web_hook_url parameter. Ensure that the URL conforms to a safe format and does not contain any malicious characters.
  • Whitelist Allowed Destinations: If possible, implement a whitelist of allowed destination URLs for the webhook requests. This will prevent the application from making requests to arbitrary endpoints.
  • Network Segmentation: Properly segment your network to limit the potential damage from a successful SSRF attack. Restrict access to sensitive internal services.
  • Monitor Network Traffic: Monitor outbound network traffic for unusual activity. Look for connections to unexpected destinations or large amounts of data being transferred.

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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