CVE-2025-68669 is a critical vulnerability affecting nanbingxyz 5ire, a cross-platform desktop AI assistant and model context protocol client. The vulnerability exists in versions 0.15.2 and earlier due to the initialization of the markdown-it-mermaid plugin with the securityLevel parameter set to 'loose'. This configuration permits the rendering of arbitrary HTML tags within Mermaid diagram nodes, which can be exploited to inject malicious scripts. The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting). An attacker can craft malicious Mermaid diagrams containing embedded HTML/JavaScript, which when rendered by the vulnerable client, leads to remote code execution (RCE). The exploit requires no privileges and only user interaction to trigger the malicious content. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive information, or disrupt service. Despite its severity (CVSS 9.7), no patch has been released yet. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages a trusted plugin feature intended for diagram rendering, making detection and prevention more challenging. Organizations using 5ire in their AI workflows or desktop environments are at risk, especially if they process untrusted Mermaid diagrams or markdown content. The vulnerability's cross-platform nature broadens its attack surface, affecting Windows, macOS, and Linux users alike.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk due to the potential for remote code execution without authentication. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive AI model data, user credentials, or proprietary information. Integrity could be compromised by injecting malicious code or altering AI assistant responses, undermining trust in automated workflows. Availability may be impacted through denial-of-service conditions triggered by malicious payloads. Sectors heavily reliant on AI assistants, such as research institutions, financial services, and critical infrastructure, could face operational disruptions and data loss. The cross-platform nature of 5ire increases the scope of affected endpoints within organizations. Additionally, the lack of a patch means organizations must rely on mitigations or temporary workarounds, increasing exposure time. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within networks, amplifying its impact. Given the high CVSS score and ease of exploitation, European entities must prioritize risk assessment and mitigation to prevent potential exploitation.

1. Immediately audit all deployments of nanbingxyz 5ire and identify versions at or below 0.15.2. 2. Disable or remove the markdown-it-mermaid plugin until a secure patch or update is available. 3. If Mermaid diagrams are necessary, configure the plugin with a stricter securityLevel setting (e.g., 'strict' or 'safe') that disallows HTML rendering within diagram nodes. 4. Implement input validation and sanitization on any user-generated Mermaid or markdown content before rendering. 5. Restrict the acceptance of Mermaid diagrams from untrusted or external sources to reduce exposure. 6. Monitor network and endpoint logs for suspicious activity related to 5ire or unexpected script execution. 7. Educate users about the risk of opening untrusted Mermaid diagrams or markdown files within 5ire. 8. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to detect and block anomalous code execution. 9. Engage with the vendor or community to track patch releases and apply updates promptly once available. 10. Consider isolating 5ire usage in sandboxed environments to limit potential damage from exploitation.