Overview
CVE-2025-27232 is a significant security vulnerability affecting Zabbix, a widely used open-source monitoring solution. This vulnerability allows an authenticated Zabbix Super Admin to exploit the oauth.authorize action to read arbitrary files from the web server. Successful exploitation can lead to a substantial loss of confidentiality, as sensitive information stored on the server could be accessed.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the OAuth authorization process within Zabbix. Specifically, the oauth.authorize action, when improperly validated, allows a Super Admin user to manipulate parameters in a way that bypasses intended security checks. This manipulation enables the reading of arbitrary files accessible to the web server user (e.g., www-data or apache).
The core issue stems from insufficient sanitization or validation of input provided by the Super Admin when calling the oauth.authorize action. Attackers can leverage this by injecting path traversal sequences or specifying absolute file paths to retrieve sensitive configuration files, database credentials, source code, or other confidential data.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for CVE-2025-27232 is listed as N/A. However, given the potential for arbitrary file read and confidentiality loss, it is anticipated that a CVSS score will be assigned upon further analysis. Based on the impact, it is likely to be rated as High or Critical.
Possible Impact
The impact of exploiting CVE-2025-27232 is severe. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to:
- Read sensitive configuration files: Obtain database credentials, API keys, and other sensitive information that can be used to compromise the entire Zabbix infrastructure.
- Access source code: Expose the application’s source code, potentially revealing further vulnerabilities.
- Obtain database backups: Gain access to backups, leading to a complete compromise of monitored data.
- Compromise the underlying server: Potentially escalate privileges or gain access to other resources on the compromised server depending on permissions.
In summary, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of a Zabbix deployment.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-27232, Zabbix users are strongly advised to take the following steps:
- Apply the Patch: Upgrade your Zabbix installation to the latest version that addresses the vulnerability. Consult the official Zabbix documentation and the ZBX-27282 issue for specific patched versions.
- Restrict Super Admin Access: Limit the number of users with Super Admin privileges to the absolute minimum required. Implement strong authentication and authorization controls.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Closely monitor Zabbix logs for any unusual activity related to the
oauth.authorizeaction or file access attempts. - Web Application Firewall (WAF): Consider implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block malicious requests targeting the
oauth.authorizeendpoint. Configure the WAF with rules specifically designed to prevent path traversal attacks.
