Overview
CVE-2025-13087 describes a critical vulnerability affecting the Opto22 Groov Manage REST API, specifically impacting GRV-EPIC and groov RIO products. This flaw allows a remote attacker with administrative privileges to achieve remote code execution with root privileges. This means a compromised system could grant an attacker complete control over the affected device.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of header details within the Groov Manage REST API. When a POST request is sent to the vulnerable endpoint, the application processes certain header values. Critically, these values are unsafely used to construct system commands. An attacker who has administrative access to the Groov Manage instance can inject arbitrary commands into these headers. Due to insufficient sanitization and validation, these injected commands are then executed with root privileges on the underlying operating system. The specific vulnerable endpoint and the affected header(s) are detailed in the advisory released by CISA (see references).
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns CVE-2025-13087 a score of 6.2, categorized as MEDIUM severity. This score reflects the following factors:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N)
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L)
- Privileges Required (PR): High (H) – Requires administrative access
- User Interaction (UI): None (N)
- Scope (S): Changed (C)
- Confidentiality Impact (C): High (H)
- Integrity Impact (I): High (H)
- Availability Impact (A): High (H)
While the need for administrative privileges lowers the CVSS score, the potential for complete system compromise and control by a remote attacker makes this a significant security concern.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-13087 can have severe consequences, including:
- Complete System Compromise: Attackers gain root access, allowing them to control all aspects of the GRV-EPIC or groov RIO device.
- Data Breach: Sensitive data stored on the device or accessible through it can be stolen or manipulated.
- Denial of Service (DoS): Attackers can crash the system or disrupt its operations, leading to downtime and potential economic losses.
- Lateral Movement: Compromised devices can be used as a springboard to attack other systems on the network.
- Industrial Process Disruption: In industrial environments, this vulnerability could lead to the manipulation or shutdown of critical processes, resulting in physical damage or safety hazards.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
Opto22 has released a patch to address this vulnerability. Users of GRV-EPIC and groov RIO products are strongly advised to take the following steps:
- Apply the Latest Patch: Immediately update Groov Manage to the latest version as provided by Opto22. Refer to Opto22 Knowledgebase article KB91326 for detailed instructions on how to update your system.
- Review Access Controls: Ensure that only authorized personnel have administrative access to Groov Manage. Regularly review and update access control lists.
- Network Segmentation: Isolate GRV-EPIC and groov RIO devices on a segmented network to limit the potential impact of a successful attack.
- Monitor Network Traffic: Implement network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activity and potential exploitation attempts.
