Insecure Deserialization Vulnerability in Auth0-PHP SDK

CVE-2025-48951

What is CVE-2025-48951?

CVE-2025-48951 is a vulnerability identified in the Auth0-PHP SDK, a software development kit used for authentication and management APIs by various applications, including those built on WordPress, Laravel, and Symfony frameworks. This particular vulnerability arises from insecure deserialization of cookie data, which allows unauthorized manipulation of application state by malicious actors. Specifically, the SDK processes cookie content without appropriate authentication checks, making it possible for an attacker to transmit a specially crafted cookie containing harmful serialized data. This flaw can adversely affect organizations by potentially compromising sensitive user data and enabling unauthorized access to user accounts, thereby amplifying the risk of data breaches and other malicious activities.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-48951

1. Unauthorized Access: Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts since the deserialization process lacks adequate security checks, allowing malicious actors to hijack sessions and manipulate authenticated user identities.

2. Data Breaches: Given that the vulnerability permits attackers to craft malicious cookies, there's a significant risk of data breaches. Attackers could gain access to sensitive user information, including personal details and authentication tokens, which can be exploited for further attacks.

3. Compromise of Application Integrity: Applications utilizing the Auth0-PHP SDK could face integrity issues, as attackers might alter the application’s behavior through malicious serialized data. This could lead to unauthorized actions performed under the guise of legitimate users, impacting trust and reliability in the affected applications.

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