Overview
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, a new vulnerability has emerged that affects users of Netwrix Directory Manager, formerly known as Imanami GroupID. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-48748, is a severe security flaw that stems from a hard-coded password in versions through v.10.0.7784.0. Hard-coded credentials are a serious security concern as they can potentially provide cybercriminals with an open door to compromise systems and exfiltrate sensitive data.
This vulnerability matters not just to the direct users of Netwrix Directory Manager, but to anyone concerned with maintaining the integrity of their systems and data. This is an urgent call to action, requiring immediate attention and rectification to prevent any potential damage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-48748
Severity: Critical (10.0 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
Escape the Surveillance Era
Most apps won’t tell you the truth.
They’re part of the problem.
Phone numbers. Emails. Profiles. Logs.
It’s all fuel for surveillance.
Ameeba Chat gives you a way out.
- • No phone number
- • No email
- • No personal info
- • Anonymous aliases
- • End-to-end encrypted
Chat without a trace.
Product | Affected Versions
Netwrix Directory Manager | Up to v.10.0.7784.0
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the hard-coded password within the Netwrix Directory Manager software. Hard-coded passwords present an attractive target to attackers, as they allow unauthorized users to bypass authentication processes. Once the hard-coded password is discovered, an attacker can gain the same level of access to the system as the software itself. This could potentially lead to full system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example demonstrating how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability:
POST /login HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-host.netwrix.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
username=admin&password=hardcoded_passwordIn this example, if an attacker knows the hard-coded password, they can use it to authenticate as an admin user on the Netwrix Directory Manager system.
Recommendations for Mitigation
The most effective mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-supplied patch as soon as possible. If for some reason the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. These tools can monitor and potentially block malicious traffic that attempts to exploit the hard-coded password. However, these are just temporary measures and cannot replace the need for the patch, which should be applied as soon as feasible.