Overview
CVE-2025-13198 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting DouPHP, a content management system (CMS). This vulnerability allows for unrestricted file uploads, potentially leading to remote code execution and complete system compromise. It affects versions up to and including Release 20251022.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides within the upload/include/file.class.php file. Specifically, an unknown function is susceptible to attack when handling the File argument. By manipulating this argument, an attacker can bypass upload restrictions and upload arbitrary files, including executable code, to the server.
The ease of exploitation is high, as the attack is performed remotely and a public exploit is already available. This means malicious actors can quickly and easily leverage this vulnerability to compromise vulnerable DouPHP installations.
CVSS Analysis
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-13198
- Severity: MEDIUM
- CVSS Score: 4.7
The CVSS score of 4.7 reflects the medium severity of this vulnerability. While it requires remote access and doesn’t necessarily grant immediate root access, the potential for escalating privileges after a successful upload makes it a significant risk.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-13198 can have severe consequences:
- Remote Code Execution (RCE): An attacker can upload and execute arbitrary code on the server, granting them complete control over the system.
- Website Defacement: Attackers can replace website content with malicious or unwanted material.
- Data Theft: Compromised servers can be used to steal sensitive data, including user credentials and financial information.
- Malware Distribution: The compromised website can be used to distribute malware to visitors.
- Denial of Service (DoS): Attackers could overload the server and make the website unavailable to legitimate users.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
Unfortunately, based on the information provided, a specific patch isn’t mentioned. Here are some recommended mitigation steps:
- Upgrade DouPHP: The most important step is to upgrade to the latest version of DouPHP as soon as a patch addressing this vulnerability is released. Check the official DouPHP website for updates.
- File Type Validation: Implement strict file type validation on the server-side. Do not rely solely on client-side validation. Use a whitelist approach, only allowing specific file extensions that are absolutely necessary.
- File Size Limits: Enforce strict file size limits to prevent the upload of excessively large files.
- Rename Uploaded Files: Automatically rename uploaded files to prevent the execution of malicious code. Use randomly generated names or hash values.
- Secure File Permissions: Ensure that uploaded files have appropriate permissions to prevent them from being executed. Set file permissions to read-only for the webserver user.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious upload attempts.
- Monitor System Logs: Regularly monitor system logs for suspicious activity, such as unusual file uploads or unauthorized access attempts.
