Overview
The world of cybersecurity is an ever-evolving landscape, with new vulnerabilities being discovered regularly. Most recently, a critical vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-36631 has been identified in Tenable Agent versions prior to 10.8.5. This vulnerability allows non-administrative users to overwrite arbitrary local system files with log content at SYSTEM privilege on a Windows host. This vulnerability is significant as it can lead to potential system compromise or data leakage, putting sensitive data at risk.
In this blog post, we delve into the details of this vulnerability, its potential impacts, and the steps that system administrators and cybersecurity professionals can take to mitigate its effects. Understanding the nature of this vulnerability is critical, especially for organizations using affected versions of Tenable Agent.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-36631
Severity: Critical (8.4)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Tenable Agent | Versions prior to 10.8.5
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability works by exploiting the Tenable Agent’s improper handling of file permissions. Specifically, an unprivileged user can manipulate the logging feature of the Tenable Agent to overwrite any local system files. This is done by redirecting the output of the log files to system files, effectively granting the attacker SYSTEM level privileges.
This vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker who has access to the system and can log in as a non-administrative user. Once the attacker gains SYSTEM privileges, they can perform various malicious activities, including modifying system configurations, installing malicious software, or even exfiltrating sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. It demonstrates how an attacker could use a simple command-line instruction to redirect the output of the Tenable Agent logs to overwrite a system file.
# Overwrite a system file with Tenable Agent log content
echo "C:\\Path\\To\\TenableAgentLogs" > "C:\\Windows\\System32\\targetfile.dll"Please note: This is a simplified conceptual example and actual exploitation may require more complex steps or specific conditions. Always adhere to ethical guidelines when exploring such vulnerabilities in a controlled environment.