CVE-2025-3558: Ghostxbh Uzy-ssm-mall RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-3558 Overview

A critical unrestricted file upload vulnerability has been identified in ghostxbh uzy-ssm-mall version 1.0.0. This vulnerability affects the file upload functionality located at /mall/user/uploadUserHeadImage, where improper handling of the File argument allows attackers to upload arbitrary files to the server. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network, potentially enabling attackers to upload malicious files such as web shells or executable scripts that could lead to remote code execution.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this unrestricted file upload vulnerability to upload malicious files to the server, potentially achieving remote code execution and full system compromise. The exploit has been publicly disclosed and the vendor has not responded to disclosure attempts.

Affected Products

ghostxbh uzy-ssm-mall version 1.0.0

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-14 - CVE-2025-3558 published to NVD
2025-10-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-3558

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type) and CWE-284 (Improper Access Control). The affected endpoint /mall/user/uploadUserHeadImage is designed to handle user profile image uploads but fails to implement proper file type validation and access controls.

The vulnerability allows authenticated users to bypass intended file type restrictions and upload arbitrary files to the server. Without proper validation of file extensions, MIME types, and file content, an attacker can upload executable scripts (such as JSP, PHP, or other server-side scripts) disguised as image files. Once uploaded, these malicious files can be accessed directly through the web server, enabling remote code execution.

The attack can be initiated remotely over the network with low complexity. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of active exploitation. Notably, the vendor was contacted about this vulnerability but did not respond, leaving users without an official patch.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of proper file upload validation in the uploadUserHeadImage functionality. The application fails to:

Validate the file extension against an allowlist of permitted image formats
Verify the actual file content matches the claimed file type (MIME type validation)
Implement proper access controls to restrict who can upload files
Sanitize or rename uploaded files to prevent execution

This combination of missing security controls allows attackers to bypass any client-side validation and upload files with dangerous extensions that can be executed by the web server.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation with low attack complexity. An attacker with low-level privileges (authenticated user) can exploit this vulnerability without user interaction.

The exploitation process involves:

An attacker authenticates to the uzy-ssm-mall application
The attacker crafts a malicious file (e.g., a web shell) with a dangerous extension
The attacker sends a POST request to /mall/user/uploadUserHeadImage with the malicious file
Due to missing file type validation, the server accepts and stores the file
The attacker accesses the uploaded file directly through the web server
The malicious file executes, granting the attacker remote code execution capabilities

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, see the VulDB entry and the Shikangsi Blog Post.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3558

Indicators of Compromise

Suspicious file uploads to the /mall/user/uploadUserHeadImage endpoint with non-image file extensions (e.g., .jsp, .php, .sh)
Presence of unexpected executable files or scripts in the user upload directory
Web server logs showing POST requests to the upload endpoint followed by GET requests to unusual file paths
Anomalous outbound network connections originating from the web server process

Detection Strategies

Monitor HTTP POST requests to /mall/user/uploadUserHeadImage for file uploads containing non-image MIME types or suspicious file extensions
Implement file integrity monitoring on upload directories to detect newly created executable files
Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to inspect and block file uploads with dangerous content types
Analyze web server access logs for patterns indicating web shell activity, such as command parameters in GET/POST requests

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed logging for the file upload functionality and monitor for anomalous upload patterns
Configure alerts for any executable file types appearing in designated image upload directories
Implement real-time monitoring of web server processes for unexpected child processes or network connections
Review authentication logs to identify potential unauthorized access attempts preceding file upload exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3558

Immediate Actions Required

Disable or restrict access to the /mall/user/uploadUserHeadImage endpoint until proper validation can be implemented
Audit existing uploaded files in the user image directory for any suspicious or non-image content
Implement network-level access controls to limit who can reach the vulnerable endpoint
Consider deploying a WAF with file upload inspection capabilities as a compensating control

Patch Information

No official patch is currently available from the vendor. The vendor (ghostxbh) was contacted about this vulnerability but did not respond. Users of uzy-ssm-mall 1.0.0 should implement the workarounds described below and consider alternative solutions if the vendor does not provide a security update. Monitor the VulDB entry for updates on patch availability.

Workarounds

Implement server-side file type validation that checks both file extensions and actual file content (magic bytes)
Configure the web server to prevent execution of uploaded files by serving them with forced download headers or from a non-executable directory
Rename uploaded files to random names with safe extensions to prevent direct access and execution
Restrict the upload endpoint to only accept files with specific image extensions (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif) and validate MIME types server-side
Consider implementing file size limits and scanning uploaded files with antivirus software before storage

bash

# Example: Configure Apache to prevent script execution in upload directory
# Add to .htaccess in the upload directory
<Directory "/path/to/upload/directory">
    # Disable script execution
    Options -ExecCGI
    RemoveHandler .php .phtml .php3 .php4 .php5 .jsp .jspx .asp .aspx
    
    # Force all files to be served as downloads
    <FilesMatch ".*">
        ForceType application/octet-stream
        Header set Content-Disposition attachment
    </FilesMatch>
</Directory>