Overview
The CVE-2025-48492 vulnerability corresponds to a severe security flaw discovered in the GetSimple CMS, a widely used content management system. The vulnerability, which exists in versions 3.3.16 through 3.3.21, could potentially allow an authenticated user to inject arbitrary PHP into a component file, leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE). This vulnerability is of significant concern as it could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage, especially for organizations relying heavily on GetSimple CMS for their content management requirements.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-48492
Severity: High, CVSS Score 8.8
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: User level
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
Product | Affected Versions
GetSimple CMS | 3.3.16 to 3.3.21
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user inputs in the Edit component of GetSimple CMS. An authenticated user with access to this component can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious PHP code into a component file. The malicious code is then executed when the server processes a crafted query string sent by the attacker. This execution could result in unauthorized access, data manipulation, or even total system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
Consider the following simplified example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability:
POST /edit-component HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
component_file=<php echo shell_exec($_GET['cmd']); ?>&query_string=?cmd=rm -rf /In this example, the attacker injects a PHP `shell_exec` command into the `component_file` parameter. The `query_string` parameter is then used to pass arbitrary shell commands (`rm -rf /` in this case, which would delete all files on the server) that are executed by the injected `shell_exec` command.
Please note that the above is a simplified example and real-world exploits may be more complex, taking advantage of specific configurations and vulnerabilities.
Mitigation Guidance
Users of GetSimple CMS versions 3.3.16 to 3.3.21 are advised to apply the vendor patch set to be released in version 3.3.22. Until then, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation strategy by monitoring and blocking suspicious activity. As with any security vulnerability, it is also recommended to follow standard security best practices, such as limiting the privileges of accounts and regularly monitoring system logs.
