CVE-2025-57516 is an OS command injection vulnerability identified in PublicCMS versions PublicCMS-V5.202506.a and PublicCMS-V5.202506.b. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation or sanitization in the backupDB.bat script, which processes DATABASE, USERNAME, and PASSWORD variables. An attacker can craft malicious inputs for these variables to inject arbitrary operating system commands. When the backupDB.bat script executes, these injected commands run with the privileges of the process executing the script, potentially allowing full system compromise. This vulnerability is critical because it allows remote or local attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying server hosting PublicCMS without authentication or with minimal privileges, depending on the deployment context. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and has not yet been fully assessed or exploited in the wild. However, the technical details confirm the presence of command injection, a high-risk vulnerability class. The absence of patch links suggests that no official fix has been released at the time of publication, increasing the urgency for mitigation. PublicCMS is a content management system used for website management, and the backupDB.bat script is likely part of its database backup functionality. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to manipulate or exfiltrate sensitive data, disrupt service availability, or pivot to further internal network compromise.

For European organizations using PublicCMS, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their web infrastructure. Attackers exploiting this flaw could execute arbitrary commands on web servers, potentially leading to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, defacement of websites, or complete service outages. Given the critical nature of command injection, attackers could also install persistent backdoors or ransomware, severely impacting business continuity. Organizations in sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, which often rely on CMS platforms for public-facing websites and internal portals, are particularly vulnerable. The lack of authentication requirements or user interaction for exploitation (depending on deployment) could allow automated mass exploitation campaigns, increasing the threat surface. Furthermore, the potential for lateral movement within corporate networks after initial compromise could lead to broader organizational impact. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the public disclosure increases the risk of rapid weaponization by threat actors.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or restricting access to the backupDB.bat script, especially from untrusted networks, until a patch is available. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all variables passed to backupDB.bat, ensuring that only expected characters and formats are accepted for DATABASE, USERNAME, and PASSWORD fields. 3. Employ the principle of least privilege by running the CMS and associated scripts with minimal permissions, preventing escalation if exploitation occurs. 4. Monitor logs for unusual command execution patterns or unexpected invocations of backupDB.bat. 5. Use application-layer firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting this vulnerability. 6. Engage with PublicCMS vendor or community for official patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on command injection vectors. 8. Consider isolating the backup process in a sandboxed environment to limit the impact of any command injection attempts. 9. Educate system administrators and developers about secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.