Overview
In this blog post, we will dive deep into the details of the recently identified vulnerability, CVE-2025-41229, that affects VMware Cloud Foundation. This vulnerability poses a serious threat to organizations utilizing VMware Cloud Foundation as it exposes their systems to potential compromise and data leakage. Given the widespread use of VMware Cloud Foundation across various industries, this vulnerability holds significant importance necessitating immediate remedial actions.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-41229
Severity: High (8.2 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
VMware Cloud Foundation | All versions up to the latest
How the Exploit Works
This vulnerability stems from a directory traversal flaw in VMware Cloud Foundation. A malicious actor with network access to port 443 can exploit this vulnerability to access internal services that should ordinarily be inaccessible. This is achieved by manipulating variables that reference files with “..” sequences and its variations. It allows an attacker to navigate through the directory tree and access restricted directories, and execute commands outside of the web server’s root directory.
Conceptual Example Code
A potential exploit could look like this:
GET /../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.comIn this conceptual example, an attacker sends a GET request aiming to retrieve the “/etc/passwd” file which is a standard UNIX file containing user information. This is a common target for attackers as it can reveal valuable information that can aid in further attacks.
Recommendations for Mitigation
The primary measure to counter this vulnerability is to apply the patch provided by the vendor. It is highly recommended to apply this patch as soon as possible considering the high severity of the issue.
If for some reason the patch cannot be applied immediately, a temporary mitigation measure can be the implementation of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that can potentially detect and prevent attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
Remember, the effectiveness of your cybersecurity measures depends on how promptly you respond to identified vulnerabilities. Stay safe, stay updated.