CVE-2025-22828 is a medium-severity vulnerability found in Apache CloudStack versions 4.16.0 and later. This vulnerability allows users who have access, prior access, or knowledge of resource UUIDs to list and add comments (annotations) on resources they are authorized to access. An attacker with such access can potentially read or add malicious comments to these resources.
The vulnerability arises from an access validation issue within the annotation functionality of CloudStack. If comments contain privileged information, this could lead to a loss of confidentiality for CloudStack environments. However, it is important to note that guessing or brute-forcing resource UUIDs is generally difficult, which reduces the risk associated with this vulnerability.
Organizations using affected versions of Apache CloudStack should prioritize remediation efforts, as this vulnerability, while of low impact, could expose sensitive information if exploited.
Apache CloudStack administrators can mitigate the risk by disallowing access to the listAnnotations and addAnnotation API for non-admin roles in their environments as an interim measure.
Given the potential confidentiality risks, organizations should take immediate action to evaluate their CloudStack configurations and implement necessary controls.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-2025-22828 is classified as a medium-severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 4.3. The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to access annotations due to an access validation issue in Apache CloudStack. The affected product is Apache CloudStack, and the vulnerability was published on January 13, 2025.
The CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-200, indicating that it involves information exposure. Organizations should ensure their CloudStack installations are updated to address this vulnerability.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-22828 lies in insufficient access controls for the comment functionality within Apache CloudStack. The attack vector is characterized as network-based, allowing remote exploitation by authenticated users with knowledge of resource UUIDs.
Attack complexity is low, and the required privileges are also low, making it easier for attackers with user accounts to exploit this vulnerability. User interaction is not required to exploit this vulnerability.
The confidentiality impact is low, as the information revealed through comments may not always be critical. However, the integrity and availability impacts are none.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential exposure of sensitive information contained in annotations on CloudStack resources. Although the likelihood of successful exploitation is low due to the difficulty of guessing resource UUIDs, organizations should still be aware of the potential impacts.
The urgency for remediation is moderate, and organizations should schedule patching or remediation efforts in their priority cycles. Regular audits of access controls and user permissions can help mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of Apache CloudStack prior to the applied patch or upgrade from version 4.16.0.0 are vulnerable to CVE-2025-22828.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching to the latest version of Apache CloudStack. If a patch is not immediately available, consider implementing access restrictions to the listAnnotations and addAnnotation APIs for non-admin users.
For further guidance on securing your applications, organizations can utilize resources such as application security assessments to identify potential weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Monitor logs for unauthorized access attempts to resource annotations and review user permissions regularly to ensure they align with access controls. Pay attention to any changes in user activity regarding annotations.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The emergence of CVE-2025-22828 illustrates the necessity for robust access controls in cloud environments. As vulnerabilities like this may not always be easily exploitable, they still represent a significant risk to confidentiality.
Organizations should regularly review their security posture, especially concerning user permissions and API access. For further insights into improving your security strategies, consider exploring our vulnerability management program to proactively manage risks.
Additionally, staying informed about trends and patterns in security vulnerabilities is vital. Organizations can benefit from reviewing our 2025 vulnerability exposure trends to enhance their defensive strategies.
By fostering a culture of security awareness and continuous improvement, organizations can better protect their cloud environments from emerging threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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