CVE-2025-23213: High Vulnerability in Tandoor Recipes

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23213 is a high-severity flaw in Tandoor Recipes, an application designed for managing recipes, planning meals, and building shopping lists. This vulnerability allows for arbitrary file uploads through the application's file upload feature, specifically targeting HTML and SVG files. These file types can contain malicious content that could lead to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. The issue has been addressed in version 1.5.28, making it imperative for organizations using this software to upgrade promptly.

With a CVSS score of 8.7, this vulnerability is categorized as high severity due to its potential impact. The risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data, as the XSS payloads could exploit user interactions and compromise application integrity. Given the nature of this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.

Currently, there is no known exploit available for this vulnerability, and it has not been listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the potential for exploitation remains, making timely remediation crucial.

Organizations using Tandoor Recipes are urged to assess their deployment and implement the necessary updates to mitigate associated risks. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to significant security breaches.

Vulnerability Details

The official description of CVE-2025-23213 states that the vulnerability allows the upload of arbitrary files including HTML and SVG formats, which can contain malicious content such as XSS payloads. The flaw is classified under CWE-434 for unrestricted file uploads.

The CVSS score assigned to this vulnerability is 8.7, indicating a high level of risk given the attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity. The required privileges are low, meaning an attacker may manipulate the upload feature with minimal access. User interaction is necessary, which increases the risk if users are tricked into uploading a malicious file.

The affected product is Tandoor Recipes, specifically all versions prior to the vendor patch in 1.5.28. The vulnerability was published on January 28, 2025.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2025-23213 lies in the file upload functionality of Tandoor Recipes, which lacks proper restrictions on file types that can be uploaded. Attackers may exploit this by uploading files that execute JavaScript code in the context of the user’s browser, potentially leading to session hijacking or data theft.

The attack vector is network-based, allowing attackers to exploit this vulnerability remotely. With low complexity and low privileges required to initiate the attack, this presents a significant risk to users of the application. User interaction is required, specifically in the form of file uploads, which could be manipulated by an attacker through social engineering tactics.

The confidentiality and integrity impacts of the vulnerability are rated as high, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to access sensitive information stored in the application or manipulate data. The availability impact is rated as none.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Organizations utilizing Tandoor Recipes should be acutely aware of the deployment risks associated with this vulnerability. The potential blast radius includes any user interacting with the application, especially those with administrative access who may inadvertently upload malicious files.

Given the high CVSS score, organizations should assess their risk based on the potential for exploitation, especially since user interaction is required, which may lead to a false sense of security. Timely patching is essential to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability effectively.

The urgency of addressing this vulnerability is high, and organizations should prioritize patching in their security cycles to prevent potential exploitation. Failing to do so could result in significant damages, including data breaches and loss of user trust.

Exploitation Status

Affected Versions

All versions of Tandoor Recipes prior to version 1.5.28 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version to mitigate risks.

Mitigation & Remediation

To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to Tandoor Recipes version 1.5.28 or later. Additionally, implementing strict validation on file uploads to allow only specific file types can help mitigate risks associated with potential exploits.

For further security measures, organizations can engage in penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses in their applications.

Regular monitoring of file upload functionalities and implementing user education on recognizing suspicious activities can further enhance security.

Detection Guidance

To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual file uploads, especially those with HTML or SVG extensions. Behavioral anomalies in user interactions, such as unexpected file uploads or access to restricted areas, should also be investigated.

Additionally, network signatures that alert on known malicious file types or payloads can aid in identifying attempts to exploit this vulnerability.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of CVE-2025-23213 lies in its potential to highlight weaknesses in file handling and upload mechanisms. As more applications allow user-generated content, the risk of similar vulnerabilities increases.

Organizations should learn from this vulnerability and adopt a proactive stance towards security by conducting regular audits and implementing stringent controls around file uploads. For further insights on managing application vulnerabilities, organizations can refer to our vulnerability management program design.

Ultimately, maintaining a robust security posture requires continuous improvement and adaptation to emerging threats, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities do not compromise organizational integrity.

Fostering a culture of security awareness and implementing best practices in application security can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation in the future. Organizations can benefit from ongoing training and security assessments to stay ahead of potential threats.

For more resources on application security assessments, consider reviewing our API penetration testing guide, which provides further insights into securing web applications against similar vulnerabilities.