CVE-2025-21107 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Dell NetWorker versions prior to 19.11.0.3, including all versions of 19.10 and earlier. This vulnerability allows local attackers with low privileges to potentially exploit the system, resulting in code execution. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.8, indicating a high level of severity that organizations must address urgently. With the potential for significant impact, it is crucial for defenders to act swiftly to protect their environments.
The vulnerability stems from an unquoted search path or element, which attackers can leverage to execute arbitrary code. Given the nature of this vulnerability, the risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and potential system compromise. As of now, there are no confirmed public exploits available, but the exploitability score indicates a moderate likelihood of exploitation in real-world scenarios.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The urgency is heightened due to the vulnerability's classification and the potential for exploitation in various environments. Proper remediation and monitoring are essential to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
Given the current status of this vulnerability as analyzed, it is advisable for organizations to remain vigilant and ensure that they are on the latest versions of Dell NetWorker. Regular updates and adherence to security best practices will help in minimizing the attack surface.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2025-21107 indicates that Dell NetWorker, in versions prior to 19.11.0.3, and all versions of 19.10 and earlier, contains an unquoted search path or element vulnerability. This flaw could be exploited by a low privileged attacker with local access, potentially leading to code execution. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8, categorized as high severity, reflecting the potential for significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The attack vector is local, requiring a low level of complexity, and the attacker needs low privileges with no user interaction necessary. The potential impacts of this vulnerability include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, suggesting that successful exploitation could compromise critical system components.
The affected product is Dell NetWorker, and the vendor is Dell. The vulnerability was published on January 30, 2025, and falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category of CWE-428, which relates to unquoted search path or element issues.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-21107 lies in the improper handling of search paths in the application, which allows an attacker to manipulate how the system locates executables. This vulnerability can be exploited through local access, meaning an attacker must have physical or remote desktop access to the affected system. The attack complexity is low, indicating that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without needing advanced technical skills.
Privileges required for exploitation are low, and user interaction is not needed, making this vulnerability particularly concerning. If an attacker successfully executes code, they could gain control of the affected system, leading to potential data breaches or further attacks.
The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are severe, with high scores indicating that exploiting this vulnerability could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information, modification of data, and disruption of service.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2025-21107 is significant, particularly for organizations relying on Dell NetWorker for backup and recovery solutions. The ability for low privileged attackers to execute code poses a direct threat to the integrity of data and systems. Given that this vulnerability is local in nature, it emphasizes the importance of physical security and access controls in addition to software updates.
The urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS score. Organizations should assess their deployment of Dell NetWorker and prioritize patching as part of their incident response and vulnerability management strategies. The blast radius of this vulnerability could extend beyond the immediate system, potentially affecting dependent services and applications.
With the exploitability score at 1.8, it indicates a moderate likelihood that attackers could develop methods to exploit this vulnerability if left unaddressed. Organizations should incorporate this risk into their threat models and ensure that proper defenses are in place.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions include all versions of Dell NetWorker prior to 19.11.0.3, as well as all versions of 19.10 and earlier. Organizations running these versions should take immediate action.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching to version 19.11.0.3 or later to remediate this vulnerability. If an upgrade is not immediately feasible, implementing workarounds such as restricting local access to the application may provide temporary relief. Additionally, organizations should review their configurations and ensure proper security practices are in place to minimize exposure.
For comprehensive security, organizations may benefit from engaging in penetration testing to identify additional vulnerabilities and strengthen their security posture.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of CVE-2025-21107, organizations should monitor for unusual local access patterns and behaviors in their log files. Additionally, tracking system changes that could indicate unauthorized code execution is essential. Implementing network signatures to identify suspicious activity can also enhance detection capabilities.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-21107 highlights the ongoing challenges in securing software from local vulnerabilities. This incident represents a pattern where low-privilege vulnerabilities can lead to severe consequences if not addressed promptly. Security teams should take this opportunity to review their security practices and ensure that vulnerabilities are remediated in a timely manner.
Organizations should also consider integrating lessons learned from this vulnerability into their broader security strategy. Engaging in regular security assessments, such as application security assessments, can help identify potential weaknesses before they are exploited.
Additionally, staying informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities, including those reported by security researchers, is vital for maintaining a resilient security posture. Organizations should be proactive in implementing security measures that can adapt to evolving threats.
To further enhance security, organizations should explore red teaming services to simulate attacks and identify vulnerabilities in a controlled environment.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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