Overview
CVE-2025-53899 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Kiteworks MFT (Managed File Transfer) versions prior to 9.1.0. This vulnerability stems from an incorrectly specified destination in a communication channel. An attacker with administrative privileges on the system, under specific circumstances, can exploit this flaw to intercept upstream communication, potentially leading to a significant escalation of privileges. Kiteworks has addressed this issue in version 9.1.0.
Technical Details
The vulnerability lies within the back-end communication channels of Kiteworks MFT. Specifically, the incorrect specification of the destination for certain internal communications allows an attacker possessing administrative privileges to redirect or intercept these communications. This misconfiguration allows the attacker to effectively eavesdrop on or manipulate critical data streams intended for other internal components, leading to unauthorized access and potential system compromise. This interception is possible only when the attacker has administrative privileges on the system and conditions are met that allow exploitation of the incorrectly specified communication channel.
CVSS Analysis
This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 7.2, indicating a High severity. This score reflects the potential for significant impact given successful exploitation. The specifics of the vector string and individual metrics can be found in the relevant security advisories.
Possible Impact
A successful exploit of CVE-2025-53899 can lead to severe consequences, including:
- Privilege Escalation: An attacker with administrative privileges can further escalate their privileges to potentially root level, gaining complete control over the Kiteworks MFT system.
- Data Breach: Intercepted communications may contain sensitive data, including credentials, file transfer details, and other confidential information.
- System Compromise: Complete system compromise is possible, potentially allowing the attacker to use the compromised Kiteworks system as a launching point for further attacks within the network.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The primary mitigation for CVE-2025-53899 is to upgrade your Kiteworks MFT instance to version 9.1.0 or later. This version contains the necessary patch to address the incorrectly specified destination issue. It is strongly recommended to apply this update as soon as possible to protect your system from potential exploitation.
Consult the official Kiteworks documentation for detailed instructions on upgrading your MFT instance.
