Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

CVE-2025-65897: Critical File Upload Vulnerability Threatens zdh_web Installations

Overview

CVE-2025-65897 identifies a critical security vulnerability affecting zdh_web, a platform designed for data collection, processing, monitoring, scheduling, and management. This vulnerability allows authenticated users to upload arbitrary files to the server file system due to insufficient validation of file upload paths. This flaw could enable attackers to overwrite existing files, potentially leading to privilege escalation or remote code execution. The vulnerability exists in zdh_web versions up to and including 5.6.17.

Technical Details

The core issue lies in the insufficient validation performed on file paths during the upload process. An authenticated user can manipulate the file path provided to the server during the upload. By crafting a malicious file path, an attacker can specify a location outside the intended upload directory, potentially overwriting critical system files or uploading executable code to vulnerable locations. The vulnerability is present because the application doesn’t adequately sanitize or validate the file path provided by the user. This allows attackers to bypass intended security measures and write to any location on the server to which the web server process has write access.

CVSS Analysis

At the time of this writing, the CVSS score and severity for CVE-2025-65897 are not yet available (N/A). However, based on the description, it is highly likely that this vulnerability will be classified as Critical due to the potential for remote code execution and privilege escalation. A high CVSS score is expected upon official assignment due to the wide range of potential impacts.

Possible Impact

The exploitation of CVE-2025-65897 can have severe consequences:

  • Remote Code Execution (RCE): An attacker could upload and execute arbitrary code on the server, gaining complete control over the system.
  • Privilege Escalation: By overwriting existing files with malicious content, an attacker can escalate their privileges to those of the web server user or even root, depending on the server configuration.
  • Data Breach: An attacker could gain access to sensitive data stored on the server.
  • Denial of Service (DoS): By overwriting critical system files, an attacker could render the system unusable.
  • System Compromise: The entire system could be compromised, allowing the attacker to perform a wide range of malicious activities.

Mitigation and Patch Steps

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-65897, the following steps are recommended:

  • Upgrade zdh_web: Upgrade to a patched version of zdh_web that addresses the file upload vulnerability. Check the vendor’s website for updates or patches. According to the Github, upgrading past commit b2423378a8bf83f159f19ce4e14eac71c939793a should solve the issue.
  • Input Validation: Implement strict input validation on file upload paths to ensure that they conform to expected patterns and do not contain malicious characters or directory traversal sequences.
  • File Type Validation: Validate the file type of uploaded files to ensure that they are of the expected type and do not contain executable code.
  • Directory Restrictions: Restrict the upload directory to a dedicated directory with limited permissions. Ensure that the web server process does not have write access to other critical system directories.
  • Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure the web server runs with the minimal privileges necessary to function.
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF to detect and block malicious file upload attempts.

References

Cybersecurity specialist and founder of Gowri Shankar Infosec - a professional blog dedicated to sharing actionable insights on cybersecurity, data protection, server administration, and compliance frameworks including SOC 2, PCI DSS, and GDPR.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *