CVE-2025-23044 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting PwnDoc, a popular penetration test report generator. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the application due to the absence of CSRF protection, which means that an attacker can send requests on behalf of a logged-in user. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it encompasses both GET and POST requests, raising the risk of unauthorized actions being taken without the user's consent.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.8, indicating a medium level of severity. The attack vector is network-based, and it requires a high level of complexity to exploit, as it necessitates user interaction. However, the potential confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated as high, highlighting the significant risk posed to organizations utilizing the affected product.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately, as the vulnerability has been known since January 20, 2025, when it was published. The issue has been addressed in commit 14acb704891245bf1703ce6296d62112e85aa995, which provides a patch to mitigate the CSRF risk. Failure to apply this patch could result in serious security implications, including unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
In summary, CVE-2025-23044 represents a critical issue for users of PwnDoc, and immediate action is required to ensure that systems are secured against potential exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2025-23044 states that there is no CSRF protection in PwnDoc, allowing attackers to send requests on a logged-in user's behalf. This includes both GET and POST requests due to the missing SameSite= attribute on cookies and the ability to refresh cookies. The vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which pertains to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
The vulnerability is classified with a primary CVSS score of 8.1, indicating high severity, according to the NVD. The metrics indicate that there is a low attack complexity and no privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability, which further emphasizes the urgency for remediation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the lack of CSRF protection mechanisms implemented in the PwnDoc application. Attackers may leverage this oversight to forge requests that an authenticated user did not intend to make. The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker does not need physical access to the system to exploit it.
The attack complexity is classified as high, which indicates that an attacker must manipulate the user into performing an action that would trigger the exploit. User interaction is required for this vulnerability, as the user must be tricked into clicking on a malicious link or visiting a compromised site.
The confidentiality impact of this vulnerability is high, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data. Additionally, the integrity impact is also rated as high, meaning that attackers may alter data without the user's consent. However, the availability impact is rated as none, indicating that the exploit does not disrupt service availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2025-23044 is significant, particularly for organizations that rely on PwnDoc for generating penetration testing reports. If exploited, the vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass authorization and perform actions as legitimate users, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative access.
Organizations should assess their deployment of PwnDoc and consider the potential blast radius. The combination of high confidentiality and integrity impacts indicates a need for immediate remediation. Given the CVSS score of 8.1, organizations should address this issue in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of PwnDoc prior to 0.9.0 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations should confirm their version and take necessary actions to upgrade or patch the affected systems.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-23044, organizations should apply the patch provided in commit 14acb704891245bf1703ce6296d62112e85aa995. This patch addresses the lack of CSRF protection in PwnDoc.
If the patch cannot be applied immediately, organizations should consider implementing additional security measures, such as web application firewalls (WAF) to help filter out malicious requests, and ensuring that cookies have the SameSite attribute set appropriately.
For further guidance, organizations may refer to our comprehensive resources on penetration testing and security best practices.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor for unusual activity related to logged-in users, specifically tracking unexpected GET and POST requests that could indicate CSRF attempts.
Log files should be scrutinized for anomalies, particularly those that involve cookie manipulations or cross-origin requests. Behavioral patterns that deviate from normal user activities may also provide insight into attempted exploits.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-23044 highlights a significant area of concern in web application security, specifically regarding CSRF vulnerabilities. This incident emphasizes the importance of implementing robust security measures to protect against unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users.
As organizations continue to depend on web applications like PwnDoc, the need for proactive security testing becomes evident. Regular assessments can help identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited by malicious actors.
For insights on enhancing your security posture, consider our resources on penetration testing methodology and implementing a comprehensive vulnerability management program to address security weaknesses effectively.
Staying informed on trends and security incidents, such as those highlighted in our blog on vulnerability exposure severity trends, can provide valuable context for future preparedness.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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