Overview
CVE-2025-52666 describes a vulnerability found in Revive Adserver versions 5.5.2 and 6.0.1 and earlier. This vulnerability allows an administrator user to unintentionally disable the admin user console due to a fatal PHP error. This is caused by improper neutralization of format characters within the settings, leading to a denial-of-service condition for the administrative interface.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from the inadequate sanitization of input provided to certain settings within the Revive Adserver administration panel. An attacker, assuming they have administrator privileges, can inject format string specifiers (e.g., %s, %d, %x) into a vulnerable setting field. When this setting is processed, the format string is incorrectly interpreted by PHP, leading to a fatal error and effectively rendering the admin console unusable. The specific setting affected and the precise mechanism triggering the error are detailed in the HackerOne report.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, a CVSS score is not available (N/A) for CVE-2025-52666. This might be due to the vulnerability being recently disclosed or under assessment. However, the impact of disabling the admin console could be significant, particularly in production environments. Further analysis is needed to determine the exact CVSS score.
Possible Impact
The primary impact of this vulnerability is a denial-of-service (DoS) of the Revive Adserver administrative console. This prevents administrators from managing campaigns, users, and other critical aspects of the ad server. While the vulnerability itself doesn’t directly compromise user data, it disrupts operations and could potentially lead to financial losses due to the inability to serve ads effectively. Furthermore, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause confusion and potentially mask other malicious activities.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
To mitigate this vulnerability, the following steps are recommended:
- Upgrade Revive Adserver: Upgrade to a version of Revive Adserver that includes a fix for this vulnerability. Check the official Revive Adserver website for updates and release notes. Contact Revive Adserver support for information on fixed versions.
- Input Sanitization: Implement robust input sanitization and validation for all settings within the Revive Adserver administration panel. Specifically, escape or strip potentially dangerous characters like format string specifiers before they are processed.
- Restrict Access: Limit access to the Revive Adserver administration panel to only trusted users with a legitimate need for access. Enforce strong password policies and multi-factor authentication.
