Appian Help Files XSS via aaConfigTools Enables PrivEsc
CVE-2025-8386 Published on November 14, 2025
AVEVA Application Server IDE Basic Cross-site Scripting
The vulnerability, if exploited, could allow an authenticated miscreant
(with privilege of "aaConfigTools") to tamper with App Objects' help
files and persist a cross-site scripting (XSS) injection that when
executed by a victim user, can result in horizontal or vertical
escalation of privileges. The vulnerability can only be exploited during
config-time operations within the IDE component of Application Server.
Run-time components and operations are not affected.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2025-8386 is exploitable with local system access, requires user interaction and user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have a high impact on confidentiality, with no impact on integrity and availability.
Weakness Type
What is a Basic XSS Vulnerability?
The software receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as "<", ">", and "&" that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages. This may allow such characters to be treated as control characters, which are executed client-side in the context of the user's session. Although this can be classified as an injection problem, the more pertinent issue is the improper conversion of such special characters to respective context-appropriate entities before displaying them to the user.
CVE-2025-8386 has been classified to as a Basic XSS vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2025-8386
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Affected Versions
AVEVA Application Server:- Before and including Versions 2023 R2 SP1 P02 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.