CVE-2025-5015 Overview
CVE-2025-5015 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the AccuWeather and Custom RSS widget. An unauthenticated attacker can replace the legitimate RSS feed URL with a malicious one, causing arbitrary script content to render in the context of the widget's host page. The flaw is tracked under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. CISA published the issue in the industrial control systems (ICS) advisory ICSA-25-175-06, indicating relevance to operational technology environments where the widget is embedded in dashboards or HMI displays.
Critical Impact
An unauthenticated network attacker can substitute a malicious RSS feed URL to execute arbitrary script in the user's browser, leading to session theft, dashboard manipulation, or pivoting into ICS operator workstations.
Affected Products
- AccuWeather widget (per CISA ICSA-25-175-06)
- Custom RSS widget (per CISA ICSA-25-175-06)
- Specific vendor and version data: Not Available in NVD record
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-25 - CVE-2025-5015 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-5015
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in how the AccuWeather and Custom RSS widget processes its feed URL configuration. The widget accepts an RSS feed URL without enforcing authentication on the configuration endpoint and without sanitizing or validating returned feed content before rendering it in the browser. An attacker who can submit or trigger a configuration change replaces the trusted feed source with one under their control.
When the widget fetches the attacker-controlled feed, the malicious payload is parsed and inserted into the host page's Document Object Model (DOM). Because user interaction is required to load the affected page or widget view, the attack chain typically relies on convincing an operator to open a dashboard containing the widget. Once rendered, attacker JavaScript executes with the same origin privileges as the hosting page.
Root Cause
The root cause is twofold: missing authentication on the feed URL configuration action and improper output encoding [CWE-79] when rendering RSS feed elements such as <title>, <description>, and <link> into the DOM. Untrusted XML content is treated as safe HTML.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. An unauthenticated attacker first replaces the configured RSS URL, then waits for an operator to load the widget. The malicious feed delivers script payloads that execute in the operator's browser session. No verified public proof-of-concept code is available; refer to CISA ICSA-25-175-06 for vendor-supplied technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-5015
Indicators of Compromise
- Outbound HTTP/HTTPS requests from operator workstations or widget host servers to RSS feed URLs that do not match the organization's approved AccuWeather or news feed domains.
- Unexpected modifications to widget configuration files or database entries containing the RSS feed URL field.
- Browser console errors or content security policy (CSP) violations originating from widget render frames.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor configuration change events on the widget's management interface, especially RSS URL parameter updates from unauthenticated sources.
- Inspect proxy and DNS logs for newly observed domains being fetched by widget rendering processes.
- Apply web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag RSS responses containing <script>, javascript:, or on*= event-handler attributes inside feed metadata fields.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable browser-side CSP reporting on pages that embed the widget to capture inline script execution attempts.
- Alert on anomalous JavaScript execution within ICS operator dashboards using endpoint behavioral telemetry.
- Track EPSS movement for CVE-2025-5015 (currently in the 68th percentile) as an early indicator of weaponization.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-5015
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the CISA ICSA-25-175-06 advisory and apply the vendor-recommended remediation steps.
- Audit current widget configurations and confirm the RSS feed URL points to an approved, trusted source.
- Restrict access to the widget's configuration interface to authenticated administrative users only.
Patch Information
Refer to CISA ICSA-25-175-06 for vendor patch availability and fixed-version guidance. Specific patched version identifiers are Not Available in the NVD record at the time of writing.
Workarounds
- Block egress to arbitrary external domains from systems hosting the widget; allow-list only required RSS sources.
- Disable the AccuWeather and Custom RSS widget on operator dashboards until a patch is applied.
- Deploy a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script-src to trusted origins on pages embedding the widget.
# Example restrictive CSP header for pages hosting the widget
Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; \
connect-src 'self' https://rss.approved-domain.example; \
frame-ancestors 'self'; object-src 'none'
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
