CVE-2025-24351: Remote logging vulnerability in ctrlX OS can lead to root-level system compromise

Overview

A serious vulnerability has been detected in the web application of ctrlX OS. This vulnerability, dubbed CVE-2025-24351, is within the “Remote Logging” functionality of the system. This specific vulnerability has a high severity score of 8.8 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) due to its potential to allow a low-privileged attacker to execute arbitrary OS commands as root via a specifically crafted HTTP request. This vulnerability is of high concern to any organization or individual using ctrlX OS as it opens up the potential for system compromise and data leakage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-24351
Severity: High (CVSS score 8.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

ctrlX OS | All versions prior to the latest patch

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability exploits an issue in the “Remote Logging” functionality of the ctrlX OS web application. A low-privileged attacker can craft a specific HTTP request that allows them to execute arbitrary OS commands as root. This can be achieved even without any user interaction. The attacker can then potentially gain complete control over the system and access sensitive data.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability. It’s a simple HTTP request that includes a malicious payload:

POST /remote_logging HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "command": "; rm -rf / ;" }

In this example, the `command` parameter is used to execute arbitrary OS command (`rm -rf /`) which will essentially delete all files in the system. This is just an example and real-world attacks can be much more complex and damaging.

Mitigation

The vendor has released a patch to address this vulnerability. All users are strongly advised to apply the patch as soon as possible. In cases where immediate patching is not possible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. However, these are not long-term solutions and patching the system should be the priority to ensure the security of the system.