CVE-2025-1647 Overview
CVE-2025-1647 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Bootstrap front-end framework. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation [CWE-79]. It impacts Bootstrap versions from 3.4.1 up to but not including 4.0.0. Attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of users viewing affected pages. Successful exploitation can lead to session token theft, credential harvesting, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The issue is tracked in the HeroDevs CVE-2025-1647 Listing and addressed in the Debian LTS Announcement.
Critical Impact
Attackers can inject arbitrary JavaScript into pages rendered by vulnerable Bootstrap versions, potentially compromising user sessions and exposing sensitive client-side data.
Affected Products
- Bootstrap 3.4.1
- Bootstrap versions between 3.4.1 and 4.0.0 (exclusive)
- Web applications and frameworks bundling vulnerable Bootstrap releases
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-15 - CVE-2025-1647 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-1647
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Bootstrap's handling of user-controlled input embedded into HTML attributes and data fields used by JavaScript components. Bootstrap fails to neutralize input before rendering it into the Document Object Model (DOM). An attacker who controls input passed to a vulnerable Bootstrap component can inject script content that executes in the victim's browser. Because Bootstrap is widely deployed across web applications, downstream products bundling versions 3.4.1 through pre-4.0.0 inherit this flaw. The EPSS probability is 0.296% with a percentile of 53.024, reflecting limited but non-trivial likelihood of opportunistic exploitation.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient output encoding when Bootstrap components process input destined for the DOM. Affected components accept attribute values or data parameters and inject them into the rendered page without escaping HTML special characters. This allows attacker-controlled markup, including <script> tags and event handlers, to be parsed and executed by the browser.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network and does not require authentication. An attacker delivers crafted input through a vulnerable application surface that propagates to a Bootstrap component, such as a tooltip, popover, or data attribute consumer. When the application renders the page, the malicious payload executes in the victim's browser context. Successful exploitation requires the victim to interact with the affected page, and the attack complexity is elevated because triggering the unsafe sink depends on application-specific usage patterns.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the HeroDevs CVE-2025-1647 Listing for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-1647
Indicators of Compromise
- Outbound requests from user browsers to unfamiliar domains immediately after rendering pages that use Bootstrap components
- Unexpected <script> tags, inline event handlers, or javascript: URIs appearing in stored content or HTTP responses
- Web server logs showing query parameters or POST bodies containing HTML or JavaScript payloads targeting Bootstrap data attributes
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all front-end dependencies and flag any Bootstrap version from 3.4.1 to before 4.0.0 using Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools
- Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reporting to surface inline script execution attempts
- Run dynamic application security testing (DAST) against pages rendering user-supplied content through Bootstrap components
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for XSS signatures targeting Bootstrap data attributes such as data-content, data-template, and data-title
- Alert on anomalous DOM mutations and script injections reported through browser telemetry or Real User Monitoring (RUM)
- Correlate authentication events with session anomalies that may indicate stolen cookies or tokens
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-1647
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Bootstrap to version 4.0.0 or later across all applications and bundled dependencies
- Audit application code for places where user input flows into Bootstrap component options or data attributes
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources
Patch Information
The vulnerability is resolved by upgrading to Bootstrap 4.0.0 or higher. Debian LTS users should apply the package updates published in the Debian LTS Announcement. Verify that transitive dependencies and vendor bundles also ship a patched Bootstrap release.
Workarounds
- Sanitize all user-controlled input server-side before it reaches Bootstrap components, stripping HTML tags and event handler attributes
- Disable or avoid passing untrusted data to Bootstrap components that accept HTML, such as tooltips and popovers with html: true
- Apply WAF rules that block XSS payloads in request parameters bound to known Bootstrap data attributes
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
