Overview
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-52360 is a critical cybersecurity flaw affecting the Koha Library Management System, particularly its v24.05 version. This vulnerability pertains to a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue residing in the OPAC search feature of the system. An XSS vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. This flaw can have significant impacts on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems and the valuable data they handle.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-52360
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Koha Library Management System | v24.05
How the Exploit Works
The XSS vulnerability exists in the OPAC search feature of the Koha Library Management System. It occurs due to the system’s failure to sanitize user input in the search field properly. This flawed security measure allows the unsanitized input to be reflected in the search history interface. Consequently, when a user interacts with the interface, it can lead to the execution of arbitrary JavaScript within the user’s browser context. This execution could result in unauthorized access, data theft, or even a total system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited using a malicious JavaScript payload:
GET /opac-search.pl?q=<script>malicious_code_here</script> HTTP/1.1
Host: target.library.comIn this example, `` would be replaced with the attacker’s malicious JavaScript. The server would then reflect this script back in the search results page, executing the malicious script in the browser of any user viewing the page.
Mitigation and Prevention
Users of the affected Koha Library Management System are urged to apply the vendor-provided patch as soon as possible. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used as a temporary mitigation measure. However, these should not be considered long-term solutions, as they may not fully protect against the vulnerability. Regularly updating and patching software is key to maintaining a strong defense against potential cyber threats.