Overview
In the vast realm of project management software, Kanboard has carved a niche for itself with its focus on the Kanban methodology. However, a critical vulnerability was discovered in versions prior to 1.2.46, which exposes users to potential system compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-52560, allows attackers to craft malicious password reset links that can leak the reset token to an attacker-controlled domain. This post is aimed at cybersecurity professionals who need to understand this vulnerability, its potential impact, and the mitigation measures that can be taken against it.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-52560
Severity: Critical (8.1 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Kanboard | Prior to 1.2.46
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies within the password reset functionality of Kanboard. When the `application_url` configuration is unset (which is the default behavior), Kanboard allows password reset emails to be sent with URLs derived from the unvalidated Host header. This loophole allows an attacker to craft a malicious password reset link that leaks the token to an attacker-controlled domain. If a victim, possibly an administrator, clicks the poisoned link, their account can be hijacked.
Conceptual Example Code
A conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited is as follows:
GET /password_reset?token=[token]&email=[victim's email] HTTP/1.1
Host: attacker-controlled-domain.comIn this request, the attacker substitutes the `[token]` and `[victim’s email]` with the actual token and victim’s email. This request would be contained within the malicious password reset link, and when a victim clicks it, the token would be sent to the attacker-controlled domain, allowing the attacker to reset the victim’s password.
Mitigation
The most effective way to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch by upgrading Kanboard to version 1.2.46 or later, where this issue has been patched. In the absence of an upgrade, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) may serve as temporary mitigation. It is also recommended to set the `application_url` configuration to prevent the usage of the Host header in password reset URLs.