CVE-2025-12203 is a path traversal vulnerability found in the givanz Vvveb product, specifically affecting versions 1.0.7.0 through 1.0.7.3. The vulnerability resides in the sanitizeFileName function located in filesystem/functions.php within the Code Editor component. This function is intended to sanitize file names but fails to properly validate or restrict input, allowing an attacker to manipulate the File argument to traverse directories outside the intended scope. This can lead to unauthorized reading or writing of files on the server, potentially exposing sensitive information or enabling further attacks such as code injection or privilege escalation. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user interaction but requires the attacker to have low privileges on the system. The CVSS v4.0 score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction, but limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no active exploitation in the wild has been reported, a public exploit is available, increasing the risk of exploitation. The vendor has released a patch (commit b0fa7ff74a3539c6d37000db152caad572e4c39b) to address this issue, and applying it is advised to mitigate the risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized file access and potential data leakage, which can compromise confidentiality. If exploited, attackers might read sensitive configuration files, source code, or other protected data, potentially leading to further exploitation such as privilege escalation or service disruption. The integrity of files could also be compromised if the vulnerability allows writing or modifying files, impacting system stability and trustworthiness. Availability impact is limited but possible if critical files are altered or deleted. Organizations using the affected Vvveb versions in web development or content management environments may face increased risk, especially if exposed to the internet. The presence of a public exploit increases the urgency for patching, as attackers could automate attacks against vulnerable systems. Compliance with European data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) may be impacted if sensitive personal data is exposed due to this vulnerability.

1. Immediately apply the official patch identified by commit b0fa7ff74a3539c6d37000db152caad572e4c39b provided by the givanz Vvveb vendor to all affected systems. 2. If patching is temporarily not possible, implement strict input validation and sanitization on the File argument at the application or web server level to prevent path traversal sequences (e.g., ../). 3. Restrict file system permissions for the Vvveb application to the minimum necessary, ensuring it cannot access sensitive directories or files outside its intended scope. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block path traversal attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint. 5. Monitor logs for suspicious access patterns or attempts to exploit path traversal, especially remote requests manipulating file parameters. 6. Conduct a security audit of all web-facing applications to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure secure coding practices are followed. 7. Educate developers on secure file handling and input validation to prevent recurrence of such issues.