Overview
In this blog post, we will be discussing a critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-27531, that exists in versions 1.13.0 up to 2.1.0 of Apache InLong. This vulnerability could potentially allow an authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files, which can lead to system compromise or data leakage. As Apache InLong is widely used for big data processing, this vulnerability could have far-reaching impacts for many organizations, potentially exposing sensitive data and undermining system integrity.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-27531
Severity: Critical (9.8 on the CVSS scale)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (Authenticated Access)
User Interaction: None
Impact: System Compromise, Data Leakage
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Product | Affected Versions
Apache InLong | 1.13.0 – 2.0.0
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability arises from how Apache InLong handles the deserialization of untrusted data. When an attacker with authenticated access sends a specially crafted, malicious data object to the application, it is possible to manipulate the deserialization process. This manipulation can allow the attacker to read arbitrary files by double writing the param, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or even complete system compromise.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how an HTTP request exploiting this vulnerability might look like:
POST /ApacheInLong/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"malicious_payload":
{
"filename": "/etc/passwd",
"action": "doubleWrite"
}
}In the above example, the attacker is attempting to read the `/etc/passwd` file, which contains user account details on Unix-like systems. The malicious payload is crafted in a way to exploit the deserialization vulnerability and trigger a double write action.
It’s crucial to note that this is a simplified, conceptual example and real-world exploits would likely be more complex and obfuscated.
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are strongly recommended to upgrade to Apache InLong version 2.1.0 or later, which contains a patch to fix the issue. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to monitor network traffic and block malicious payloads could serve as a temporary mitigation strategy. As with any cybersecurity threat, a layered defense strategy is always the best approach.