Apache SkyWalking Vulnerability Lets Attackers Expose Users to XSS Attacks

A recently discovered vulnerability in Apache SkyWalking, a widely used application performance monitoring tool, could enable attackers to execute malicious scripts and launch cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against users.

The flaw, catalogued as CVE-2025-54057, affects all versions of SkyWalking up to and including 10.2.0, raising significant concerns for organizations that rely on this monitoring solution.

Understanding the Vulnerability

CVE-2025-54057 is a stored XSS vulnerability caused by improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in SkyWalking’s web interface.

This classification means attackers can inject malicious code directly into the application, which persists and executes whenever other users access the affected page.

When triggered, the injected scripts run in users’ browsers with the same privileges as legitimate application code, creating a severe security exposure.

The vulnerability’s impact extends far beyond simple website defacement. Attackers exploiting this flaw could steal sensitive information, including login credentials, session tokens, and personal data.

They could also impersonate legitimate users, gain unauthorized access to accounts, and potentially compromise the entire application and its underlying data infrastructure.

For organizations managing critical infrastructure or sensitive operations through SkyWalking, the consequences could be particularly devastating.

The security issue has been rated “Important” in severity and affects all SkyWalking versions through 10.2.0.

This broad range of versions indicates a potentially widespread risk across the user base. The Apache SkyWalking development team responded swiftly by releasing a patch in version 10.3.0, which addresses the vulnerability entirely.

The mitigation strategy is straightforward: immediate upgrade to version 10.3.0 or later. Organizations using any version up to 10.2.0 face active risk and should prioritize this update as an emergency security measure.

No workarounds or alternative mitigations are available, making immediate patching the only viable defense against potential exploitation.

Security researcher Vinh Nguyễn Quang identified and reported the vulnerability to the Apache Software Foundation, which coordinated the development and release of the fix.

This discovery underscores the critical role that open-source communities play in identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities before they are widely exploited.

Organizations using Apache SkyWalking should treat this update as a critical priority. The vulnerability’s stored XSS nature means any delay in patching leaves systems vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that could compromise user data and application integrity.

Administrators should verify successful upgrades and monitor for any suspicious activity that might indicate prior exploitation attempts.

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