Overview
The CVE-2025-32801 vulnerability is a significant cybersecurity threat that exposes systems running Kea versions 2.4.0 through 2.4.1, 2.6.0 through 2.6.2, and 2.7.0 through 2.7.8 to potential compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability is caused by the ability of Kea configuration and API directives to load a malicious hook library. Many systems currently in operation run Kea as root and leave the API entry points unsecured by default – a dangerous practice that inadvertently increases the severity of this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-32801
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Kea | 2.4.0 – 2.4.1
Kea | 2.6.0 – 2.6.2
Kea | 2.7.0 – 2.7.8
How the Exploit Works
The exploit takes advantage of Kea’s default settings, which leave API entry points unsecured. An attacker can use these directives to load a malicious hook library into the system. This is particularly dangerous in cases where Kea runs as root, as it allows the attacker to gain system-level privileges and potentially compromise the system or leak sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a simplified conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. Please note that this is pseudocode and not meant to be run in a real environment.
# Define malicious hook library
malicious_hook = "malicious_library.so"
# Define Kea API entry point
kea_api_entry = "/var/kea/api/socket"
# Load malicious hook library
load_library(kea_api_entry, malicious_hook)
# Execute malicious actions with root privileges
execute_malicious_actions()In this example, the `load_library` function represents the abuse of Kea configuration and API directives to inject a malicious library. The `execute_malicious_actions` function then represents the actions an attacker might take once they’ve gained system-level privileges, such as exfiltrating sensitive data or installing additional malware.
Countermeasures
To mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used as temporary mitigation. Additionally, system administrators should consider reviewing and tightening security settings related to Kea’s operation, including running Kea with lower privileges and securing API entry points.