CVE-2025-45238: Arbitrary File Deletion Vulnerability in foxcms v1.2.5

Overview

The cybersecurity realm has once again seen the emergence of a critical vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-45238. This vulnerability resides in foxcms v1.2.5, a popular content management system utilized by numerous applications. The vulnerability is due to the software containing an arbitrary file deletion flaw via the delRestoreSerie method. This vulnerability is a severe risk that can potentially allow attackers to compromise systems or leak sensitive data. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to understand the threat and take appropriate measures to mitigate it.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-45238
Severity: Critical (9.1)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

foxcms | v1.2.5

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability is rooted in the arbitrary file deletion flaw within the delRestoreSerie method of foxcms v1.2.5. It allows attackers to delete any file on the server without proper authorization. Attackers can exploit this flaw by sending specially crafted requests to the vulnerable method. If the request is processed, the specified file can be deleted, which could potentially disrupt system operations or even lead to full system compromise if critical system files are deleted.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a HTTP request that sends a malicious payload to the vulnerable endpoint.

POST /delRestoreSerie HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"filename": "/etc/passwd"
}

In this example, the attacker is trying to delete the “/etc/passwd” file, which is a crucial file in Unix-like operating systems that contains user account information.

Mitigation and Prevention

Users of foxcms v1.2.5 are advised to immediately apply the vendor-supplied patch to fix this vulnerability. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used as temporary mitigation. These tools can block or alert on attempts to exploit the vulnerability. However, this should not be seen as a long-term fix, and patching the software should be done as soon as possible to ensure the highest level of security.