CVE-2025-5164 is a security vulnerability identified in PerfreeBlog version 4.0.11, specifically within its JWT (JSON Web Token) handling component, JwtUtil. The vulnerability arises from the use of a hard-coded cryptographic key for signing or verifying JWTs. Hard-coded keys are embedded directly in the application code and cannot be changed without modifying the source code, which poses a significant security risk. An attacker who discovers this key can potentially forge JWT tokens, bypass authentication or authorization controls, and gain unauthorized access to protected resources or user accounts. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction, but the attack complexity is rated as high, indicating that exploitation demands considerable skill or specific conditions. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.3 (medium severity), reflecting a network attack vector with high complexity and no privileges or user interaction required. The impact on confidentiality is low since the key exposure does not directly leak data but can lead to token forgery. Integrity is not impacted beyond token manipulation, and availability is unaffected. The vendor has not responded to the disclosure, and no patches are currently available. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, public disclosure of the vulnerability increases the risk of future exploitation. Organizations using PerfreeBlog 4.0.11 should consider this vulnerability seriously due to the potential for unauthorized access through forged JWTs.

For European organizations using PerfreeBlog 4.0.11, this vulnerability could allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users or escalate privileges by forging JWT tokens. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, modification of content, or administrative functions within the blogging platform. Given that PerfreeBlog is a content management system, the compromise could affect the integrity of published content and potentially expose user data. Although the attack complexity is high, determined threat actors targeting European entities could exploit this vulnerability, especially in sectors relying on PerfreeBlog for public-facing or internal communications. The lack of vendor response and patch availability increases the risk exposure period. Organizations in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or government could face compliance issues if unauthorized access leads to data breaches. Additionally, reputational damage may occur if attackers deface websites or manipulate published content. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but tangible risk that should be addressed promptly.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or restricting access to the JWT functionality in PerfreeBlog if feasible, to prevent token-based authentication until a fix is available. 2. Implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls (WAFs) to monitor and block suspicious JWT tokens or anomalous requests targeting the JWT endpoints. 3. Conduct a thorough audit of all JWT tokens issued by the system to identify potentially forged tokens and revoke them if possible. 4. Consider migrating to a more secure version of PerfreeBlog once a patch is released or switch to alternative blogging platforms that do not have this vulnerability. 5. If source code access is available, replace the hard-coded key with a securely generated, environment-specific key stored in a protected configuration or secrets management system. 6. Enhance monitoring and logging around authentication and authorization events to detect unusual access patterns indicative of token forgery. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risk and encourage strong password policies and multi-factor authentication where supported to reduce the impact of compromised tokens. 8. Engage with cybersecurity incident response teams to prepare for potential exploitation attempts and have an incident response plan tailored to this vulnerability.