CVE-2025-45613: Shiro-Action Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-45613 Overview

CVE-2025-45613 is an incorrect access control vulnerability in the /user/list component of Shiro-Action v0.6. This security flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive user information by sending crafted HTTP requests to the affected endpoint. The vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation in the Apache Shiro-based permission framework.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit the /user/list endpoint to enumerate and access sensitive user data without proper authorization, potentially exposing usernames, roles, and other confidential information stored in the application.

Affected Products

• Shiro-Action v0.6 by zhaojun1998
• Applications built using the affected Shiro-Action framework
• Web services exposing the vulnerable /user/list endpoint

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-05 - CVE-2025-45613 published to NVD
• 2025-10-14 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-45613

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the application fails to properly restrict access to a sensitive resource. The /user/list component in Shiro-Action v0.6 does not adequately verify user permissions before returning user data. This allows attackers to bypass authentication and authorization checks entirely when accessing the user listing functionality.

The vulnerability is network-accessible and requires no user interaction or prior authentication to exploit. Attackers can directly query the vulnerable endpoint and retrieve sensitive information that should be restricted to authorized administrators only.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-45613 lies in the improper implementation of access control checks within the Shiro-Action framework's user management module. The /user/list endpoint appears to lack the necessary Apache Shiro permission annotations or filter chain definitions that would enforce authentication and authorization requirements. This configuration oversight allows the endpoint to respond to requests without validating whether the requester has appropriate permissions to view user data.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward. An attacker can exploit this flaw by sending a crafted HTTP request directly to the /user/list endpoint. The attack is network-based and does not require any special privileges, user interaction, or complex conditions to execute. The vulnerability specifically impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive user information.

The exploitation process typically involves:

1. Identifying a target application running Shiro-Action v0.6
2. Sending a crafted HTTP request to the /user/list endpoint
3. Receiving sensitive user data in the response without authentication

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-45613

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to /user/list endpoint from external or unauthorized IP addresses
• Increased volume of requests to user enumeration endpoints without valid session tokens
• Access logs showing requests to /user/list without accompanying authentication headers
• Response payloads containing user data sent to unauthenticated sessions

Detection Strategies

• Configure web application firewalls (WAF) to monitor and alert on unauthenticated access attempts to /user/list
• Implement application-level logging to track all requests to sensitive user management endpoints
• Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify patterns of unauthorized data access attempts
• Monitor for reconnaissance activities targeting user enumeration endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed access logging for all /user/* endpoints in your application
• Set up real-time alerts for requests to sensitive endpoints that lack valid authentication tokens
• Review application logs regularly for anomalous access patterns to user management functions
• Implement rate limiting on user listing endpoints to slow down enumeration attacks

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-45613

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the /user/list endpoint using firewall rules or network segmentation
• Implement authentication checks at the web server or reverse proxy level as a temporary measure
• Review all Shiro-Action endpoints for similar access control misconfigurations
• Consider disabling the vulnerable endpoint until a proper fix can be applied

Patch Information

As of the last NVD update on 2025-10-14, users should monitor the Shiro-Action GitHub repository for official patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. Upgrade to a patched version of Shiro-Action when available from the vendor.

Workarounds

• Add explicit Apache Shiro permission annotations (e.g., @RequiresAuthentication, @RequiresPermissions) to the vulnerable controller method
• Configure Shiro filter chains in shiro.ini or equivalent configuration to require authentication for /user/** paths
• Deploy a reverse proxy with authentication requirements in front of vulnerable endpoints
• Implement IP-based access restrictions to limit access to trusted networks only

# Example Shiro filter chain configuration workaround
# Add to shiro.ini or application configuration
[urls]
/user/list = authc, perms["user:view"]
/user/** = authc