Overview
The CVE-2025-54256 is a critical cybersecurity vulnerability that affects Dreamweaver Desktop versions 21.5 and earlier. This Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has the potential to lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user, posing a significant risk to both individual users and businesses that rely on the software. The severity of this vulnerability is amplified by the fact that it necessitates only a single click on a malicious link by the victim, thereby changing the scope of the vulnerability. This makes it a high-risk issue that warrants immediate attention and remediation.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-54256
Severity: High (CVSS: 8.6)
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
Dreamweaver Desktop | 21.5 and earlier
How the Exploit Works
The CVE-2025-54256 vulnerability stems from an oversight in Dreamweaver Desktop’s handling of CSRF attacks. This flaw could allow an attacker to trick a victim into executing unwanted actions on a web application in which they’re authenticated. If the victim clicks on a malicious link provided by the attacker, it can result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. This could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage, depending on the level of permissions associated with the affected user account.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited using a malicious HTTP request. The attacker creates a link that, when clicked, sends a POST request to the vulnerable endpoint:
POST /vulnerable/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "malicious_payload": "<script>/* Arbitrary code */</script>" }The victim unknowingly triggers the CSRF attack by clicking on the malicious link, causing the arbitrary code to be executed in their context. This could lead to a system compromise or data leakage, depending on the nature of the executed code and the permissions of the affected user account.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate the CVE-2025-54256 vulnerability, users should apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. Alternatively, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation strategy. These tools can help detect and block malicious HTTP requests, thereby protecting the system from CSRF attacks. However, users should still apply the vendor patch as soon as possible for the most effective long-term protection.
