CVE-2025-45616: Incorrect Access Control Vulnerability in the /admin/** API of brcc v1.2.0

Overview

In the world of cybersecurity, CVE-2025-45616 has been identified as a critical vulnerability affecting brcc v1.2.0. This security flaw arises from incorrect access control mechanism in the /admin/** API, leading to an unauthorized attacker gaining administrative privileges. The severity of this issue is underscored by its CVSS score of 9.8, which denotes a serious threat to system integrity. Given the potential for system compromise or data leakage, it is crucial that affected organizations take immediate steps to mitigate this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-45616
Severity: Critical (9.8/10 on CVSS)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage through unauthorized admin access

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

brcc | v1.2.0

How the Exploit Works

The CVE-2025-45616 vulnerability lies within the /admin/
API of the brcc v1.2.0 software. This API is incorrectly configured to allow unrestricted access, a flaw which can be exploited by attackers to gain admin rights. The attacker crafts a special request, which when sent to the /admin/
API, allows them to bypass the normal access control mechanisms and gain administrative privileges. Once the attacker gains these privileges, they can compromise the system or cause data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a sample HTTP request:

POST /admin/** HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"admin_access": "True",
"username": "attacker",
"password": "password123"
}

In this example, the attacker sends a POST request to the /admin/** API endpoint with credentials that should not have admin access. However, due to the incorrect access control, the server grants admin rights to the attacker.

Mitigation and Prevention

Mitigation of this vulnerability requires prompt actions. An immediate solution would be to apply the vendor patch. If the patch is not available, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation method. These will help detect and block suspicious activities or requests.
In the long term, it’s crucial to have a robust patch management process in place to ensure that software updates and patches are applied promptly. Regular security audits and penetration testing can also aid in the early detection of vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-45616, thus reducing the window of opportunity for potential attackers.