Overview
Emlog, a widely used open-source website building system, is currently facing a serious security vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-53923. This vulnerability is a type of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack that allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML. Critical to both individual users and businesses, it can lead to potential system compromise or data leakage. With a CVSS severity score of 8.2, this is a major concern for any entity using Emlog up to and including version pro-2.5.17.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-53923
Severity: High (8.2)
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Emlog | Up to and including pro-2.5.17
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from Emlog’s failure to properly sanitize the ‘keyword’ parameter in its programming. This lack of input validation allows attackers to inject HTML/JS code into this parameter. When a user is lured into clicking a specially crafted link, the attacker’s code can execute in the user’s browser. The attacker can then access sensitive data, manipulate web content, or perform other malicious activities.
Conceptual Example Code
Assuming a malicious actor wants to exploit this vulnerability, a conceptual HTTP request might look like this:
GET /search?keyword=<script>malicious_code_here</script> HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-website.comIn this example, `` is where the attacker would insert their harmful JavaScript. This script runs when a user clicks on the manipulated link.
Impact of the Vulnerability
The potential impact of this exploit is severe. An attacker can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the user’s browser, possibly leading to undesired system compromise or data leakage. This could include theft of sensitive information, session hijacking, or even remote code execution.
Recommended Mitigation
Unfortunately, as of the time of publication, there are no known patched versions of Emlog addressing this vulnerability. Until a patch is released, users are recommended to implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure. These tools can monitor and block potentially harmful HTTP requests, thus preventing exploitation of this vulnerability.
In addition to these measures, users should be educated on the risks of clicking on unverified links and trained to recognize potential phishing attempts. Regular updates and patches should be applied as soon as they are released by the vendor.