CVE-2025-2703: XY Chart Plugin DOM XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-2703 Overview

A DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been identified in Grafana's built-in XY Chart plugin. This security flaw allows authenticated users with Editor permissions to manipulate panel configurations in a way that enables the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers with Editor privileges can inject malicious JavaScript through the XY Chart plugin, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of other users.

Affected Products

• Grafana (versions affected as specified in the security advisory)
• XY Chart Plugin (built-in component)

Discovery Timeline

• April 23, 2025 - CVE-2025-2703 published to NVD
• June 10, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-2703

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), commonly known as Cross-Site Scripting. The DOM XSS vulnerability exists within Grafana's built-in XY Chart plugin, where user-controllable data is processed and rendered without adequate sanitization.

The attack requires an authenticated user with Editor permissions to modify the configuration of an XY Chart panel. Once modified, the malicious payload executes in the context of any user who subsequently views the affected dashboard. This makes it particularly dangerous in shared Grafana environments where multiple users access common dashboards.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the XY Chart plugin's rendering logic. When chart configurations are processed and rendered in the DOM, user-supplied data is not properly sanitized, allowing JavaScript code to be interpreted and executed by the browser. This failure to neutralize special characters and script tags before insertion into the DOM creates the XSS condition.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires low complexity to execute, though it does require the attacker to have valid Editor credentials. The exploitation flow involves:

1. An attacker with Editor permissions accesses a Grafana instance
2. The attacker creates or modifies an XY Chart panel with malicious JavaScript embedded in the configuration
3. When other users view the dashboard containing the poisoned panel, the JavaScript executes in their browser context
4. The malicious code can steal session tokens, perform actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to phishing pages

The vulnerability mechanism involves manipulation of the XY Chart panel configuration parameters. When these parameters are rendered in the DOM, the lack of proper escaping allows embedded JavaScript to execute. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the SonarSource Blog on XSS Detection.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-2703

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual JavaScript patterns in XY Chart panel configurations
• Dashboard modifications by Editor accounts that include script tags or event handlers
• Unexpected outbound network connections from user browsers when viewing Grafana dashboards
• Session token exfiltration attempts detected in network logs

Detection Strategies

• Review Grafana audit logs for suspicious dashboard or panel modifications by Editor accounts
• Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to detect and block inline script execution
• Monitor for unusual patterns in panel configuration JSON that include script elements or event handlers
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect XSS payloads in dashboard API requests

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable and centralize Grafana audit logging to track all dashboard modifications
• Configure browser-based XSS detection through CSP violation reporting
• Monitor user behavior analytics for anomalous dashboard editing patterns
• Implement real-time alerting on dashboard configuration changes containing suspicious strings

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-2703

Immediate Actions Required

• Review and apply the latest security patches from Grafana as outlined in the Grafana Security Advisory
• Audit existing dashboards for any suspicious XY Chart panel configurations
• Temporarily restrict Editor permissions to trusted users only until patches are applied
• Implement Content Security Policy headers to provide defense-in-depth against XSS attacks

Patch Information

Grafana has released security patches to address this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the official Grafana Security Advisory CVE-2025-2703 for specific version information and upgrade instructions. Apply the recommended patches immediately to all affected Grafana installations.

Workarounds

• Restrict Editor role assignments to only essential, trusted personnel
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of Grafana instances
• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to filter potential XSS payloads in dashboard requests
• Enable Content Security Policy headers with strict script-src directives to mitigate JavaScript execution from untrusted sources

# Example CSP header configuration for Grafana (nginx)
add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'; img-src 'self' data:; font-src 'self';" always;