CVE-2025-41396 is a path traversal vulnerability identified in the file uploading functionality of Alfasado Inc.'s PowerCMS product, specifically affecting versions 6.7 and earlier of the PowerCMS 6.x series. This vulnerability allows a user with limited privileges (product user with some level of authentication) to manipulate file paths during the upload process, enabling the overwriting of arbitrary files on the server. The flaw arises due to improper validation or limitation of pathname inputs, which fails to restrict file operations to a designated directory. Consequently, an attacker can craft file upload requests that traverse directories outside the intended upload folder, potentially overwriting critical system or application files. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4, indicating a medium severity level. The vector metrics specify that the attack can be executed remotely over the network (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), needs privileges (PR:L), does not require user interaction (UI:N), and impacts integrity and availability (I:L, A:L) but not confidentiality (C:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links have been published at the time of this report. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to partial denial of service or integrity compromise of the affected system by overwriting files, which may include configuration files, scripts, or other critical resources used by PowerCMS or the underlying server environment.

For European organizations using PowerCMS 6.x or earlier versions, this vulnerability poses a tangible risk to the integrity and availability of their content management systems. Since PowerCMS is often used to manage web content, exploitation could disrupt website operations, leading to service outages or defacement. Overwritten files might include CMS core files or server configuration files, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or cause persistent disruptions. The impact is particularly significant for organizations that rely on PowerCMS for public-facing websites or internal portals, as service interruptions could affect customer trust, business continuity, and compliance with data availability requirements under regulations like GDPR. Additionally, if the overwritten files include scripts or executables, there is a risk of further compromise or lateral movement within the network. Although confidentiality is not directly impacted, the integrity and availability concerns are sufficient to warrant prompt attention, especially in sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and media where CMS uptime and data integrity are critical.

Organizations should immediately verify if they are running PowerCMS version 6.7 or earlier and prioritize upgrading to a fixed version once available from Alfasado Inc. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization on file upload paths to prevent directory traversal sequences (e.g., '..' or absolute paths). Employing web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious file upload requests can provide interim protection. Restricting file system permissions so that the CMS process can only write to designated upload directories will limit the potential damage from exploitation. Regularly auditing file integrity and monitoring logs for unusual file modification activities can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, isolating the CMS environment using containerization or sandboxing techniques can reduce the blast radius of a successful attack. Finally, educating users about the risks and ensuring that only trusted users have upload privileges will reduce the likelihood of exploitation.