Overview
CVE-2025-54341 identifies a medium severity vulnerability within the Application Server of Desktop Alert PingAlert versions 6.1.0.11 to 6.1.1.2. This vulnerability stems from the presence of hard-coded configuration values within the application. The presence of hardcoded credentials or sensitive configuration settings represents a significant security risk, as it can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system functionalities.
Technical Details
The vulnerability arises because the PingAlert Application Server stores sensitive configuration data, such as database credentials or API keys, directly within the application’s codebase or configuration files in a non-encrypted or easily decipherable format. This allows malicious actors who gain access to the application’s files or memory to extract these credentials and use them to compromise the system.
Specifically, the vulnerability impacts the application server component, meaning attackers can potentially leverage the hardcoded values to compromise the server itself and any sensitive data handled by it.
Without further specific details on *which* configurations are hardcoded, this remains a broad description. Exploitation likely requires either local access to the server or successful injection of commands/code that allow external users to read configuration files or memory.
// Example of potentially vulnerable code (Illustrative)
// IN REALITY, this would be compiled code and not easily readable
// but this gives the IDEA of the issue.
// DON'T EVER DO THIS!
String databaseUsername = "hardcoded_username";
String databasePassword = "hardcoded_password";
// Instead, use environment variables or a secure configuration management system.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns CVE-2025-54341 a score of 5.3, indicating a MEDIUM severity vulnerability.
This score is derived from several factors, including:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) – Meaning the vulnerability can be exploited remotely.
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – Implying that exploitation requires minimal effort.
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N) – An attacker does not need any privileges to exploit the vulnerability.
- User Interaction (UI): None (N) – No user interaction is required to exploit the vulnerability.
- Scope (S): Unchanged (U) – An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority.
- Confidentiality Impact (C): Low (L) – There is limited disclosure of information.
- Integrity Impact (I): None (N) – There is no modification of data.
- Availability Impact (A): None (N) – There is no disruption of service.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-54341 could allow an attacker to:
- Gain unauthorized access to the PingAlert Application Server.
- Access sensitive data stored within the application, such as user information, alert configurations, or system settings.
- Potentially escalate privileges within the system, depending on the scope of the hardcoded credentials.
- Compromise the integrity of alerts or notifications being sent, potentially leading to misinformation or denial-of-service scenarios.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-54341, the following steps are recommended:
- Upgrade to the latest version: Update PingAlert Desktop Alert to a version beyond 6.1.1.2. Consult the vendor’s release notes to ensure the update addresses this specific vulnerability.
- Secure Configuration Management: If an upgrade is not immediately possible, review the application server’s configuration files and codebase to identify any hardcoded credentials or sensitive values. Replace these with secure alternatives, such as environment variables, encrypted configuration files, or dedicated secrets management systems.
- Access Control: Implement strict access control policies to restrict access to the application server’s files and configuration data. Limit access to only authorized personnel.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Implement robust monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect any suspicious activity that may indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability.
