Overview
The CVE-2025-6996 vulnerability refers to the improper use of encryption in the agent of Ivanti Endpoint Manager, a common IT asset management solution. This flaw, present in versions prior to 2024 SU3 and 2022 SU8 Security Update 1, can be exploited by a local authenticated attacker to decrypt other users’ passwords. Given the widespread use of Ivanti Endpoint Manager in IT environments, this vulnerability could potentially impact a vast number of users and businesses. Its exploitation can lead to unauthorized access, potential system compromise, and data leakage, posing a significant threat to data privacy and security.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-6996
Severity: High (8.4 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low (Authenticated User)
User Interaction: None
Impact: Unauthorized access, potential system compromise, data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Ivanti Endpoint Manager | Before version 2024 SU3
Ivanti Endpoint Manager | Before version 2022 SU8 Security Update 1
How the Exploit Works
An attacker with authenticated access to the local system can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the improper encryption usage in the agent of Ivanti Endpoint Manager. Essentially, the flaw lies in the software’s failure to implement robust encryption for user passwords. This means that an attacker can potentially decrypt these passwords, gaining unauthorized access to other users’ accounts.
Conceptual Example Code
While the exact exploit code is not divulged for responsible disclosure, the general attack scenario would involve an attacker intercepting encrypted password data and then using the weakness in the encryption to decrypt the passwords. This can be conceptually illustrated in pseudocode as follows:
def exploit_cve_2025_6996(target_system):
encrypted_passwords = intercept_encrypted_passwords(target_system)
decrypted_passwords = decrypt_passwords(encrypted_passwords)
return decrypted_passwordsThis pseudocode represents the high-level process an attacker might follow to exploit this vulnerability. It’s important to note that this is a conceptual example and the actual exploit would likely require more advanced techniques.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6996
The primary method of mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-supplied patch. Ivanti has released updates (2024 SU3 and 2022 SU8 Security Update 1) that rectify this encryption flaw, and users are strongly advised to apply these patches as soon as possible.
As a temporary mitigation, users can also deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to monitor and potentially block suspicious activities. However, these are not long-term solutions and cannot replace the need for patching the software.
Remember, staying up-to-date with software updates and patches is one of the most effective ways to secure your systems against vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-6996.