CVE-2025-21611 is a high-severity vulnerability found in tgstation-server, a production scale tool for BYOND server management. This issue affects versions before 6.12.3, where roles used to authorize API methods were incorrectly combined with OR logic instead of AND logic with the role determining if a user was enabled. As a result, enabled users can access most authorized actions regardless of their permissions. However, the WriteUsers right remains unaffected, meaning users cannot exploit this vulnerability to permanently elevate their account permissions.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 8.8, classified as high severity, indicating a significant risk to affected systems. Organizations should prioritize patching tgstation-server to version 6.12.3 or later to address this vulnerability and secure their environments.
With an exploitability score of 2.8, this vulnerability has the potential to be exploited in the wild, increasing the urgency for organizations to remediate their systems. Patching should be completed immediately to mitigate the associated risks.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive actions within their systems. This vulnerability was published on January 6, 2025, and has been analyzed for its impact on security practices.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to prevent unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
Vulnerability Details
The official description for CVE-2025-21611 states that tgstation-server allows enabled users access to most authorized actions due to an improper logical operation in role authorization. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-285, which pertains to improper authorization.
The vulnerability was disclosed in its current state on January 6, 2025, and it is crucial for organizations using tgstation-server to upgrade to version 6.12.3 to mitigate the risks associated with this flaw.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-21611 is the incorrect logical operation applied when authorizing API method calls. The roles that determine access should utilize AND logic to ensure that all necessary permissions are met for an action to be authorized. However, the OR logic allows for a broader interpretation of permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized access.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, as it can be exploited through API calls made by users. The complexity of the attack is considered low, as it does not require advanced skills to exploit. A low level of privileges is required for exploitation, making it easier for malicious actors to utilize this flaw without needing extensive access.
No user interaction is required for exploitation, and the potential impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, underscoring the critical nature of this flaw.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2025-21611 is significant. Organizations using tgstation-server could face unauthorized access to sensitive functionalities, leading to data breaches or other security incidents. The blast radius for this vulnerability could be extensive, especially if the affected systems are part of critical infrastructure or contain sensitive user data.
Given the high CVSS score of 8.8, organizations must treat this vulnerability with urgency. Immediate patching is recommended as organizations can prevent potential exploitation and safeguard sensitive information.
Organizations should incorporate this vulnerability into their incident response and risk management strategies to mitigate impacts effectively.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The only affected versions of tgstation-server are those prior to version 6.12.3. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must patch tgstation-server to version 6.12.3 or later to remediate this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected APIs and monitor user activity for any unauthorized access attempts.
For additional guidance on security testing and vulnerability management, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services that can assist in identifying and mitigating similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unauthorized API access attempts, particularly focusing on unusual patterns of access that do not align with user roles. Behavioral anomalies indicating privilege escalation attempts should also be flagged for further investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-21611 highlights the need for organizations to implement robust security measures around API authorization. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that role-based access controls are correctly configured to mitigate unauthorized access risks.
As organizations increasingly rely on APIs for critical operations, it is essential to conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. For further reading, consider reviewing our article on vulnerability management programs to enhance your security posture.
In addition, organizations should consider utilizing our penetration testing methodology to proactively address security weaknesses and ensure compliance with industry standards.
Ultimately, CVE-2025-21611 underscores the ongoing challenges organizations face in securing their APIs and the need for continuous vigilance in maintaining secure software development practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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