CVE-2025-13481: HIGH Severity Vulnerability | Secably CVE Database

Summary

CVE-2025-13481 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting IBM Aspera Orchestrator versions 4.0.0 through 4.1.0. This vulnerability allows an authenticated user to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges on the system due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Technical Details

CVE-2025-13481 arises from a flaw in how IBM Aspera Orchestrator handles user-provided input within specific API endpoints. The application fails to adequately sanitize or validate input before using it in system commands. An authenticated user, possessing valid credentials, can craft malicious input that, when processed by the Orchestrator, results in the execution of arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the Orchestrator process. This can include installing malware, modifying system configurations, accessing sensitive data, or disrupting services. The specific vulnerable API endpoints and the exact nature of the input validation failure are not publicly disclosed in full detail but are related to how the Orchestrator processes workflow definitions or task parameters. Successful exploitation requires authentication, but the impact is severe due to the potential for complete system takeover.

The vulnerability is exploitable because the application trusts the user-supplied data without proper sanitization. This allows attackers to inject malicious commands into the system's execution flow. The lack of input validation is the root cause, and the elevated privileges of the Orchestrator process amplify the impact.

Affected Products and Versions

IBM Aspera Orchestrator 4.0.0
IBM Aspera Orchestrator 4.0.1
IBM Aspera Orchestrator 4.0.2
IBM Aspera Orchestrator 4.1.0

Impact Assessment

Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-13481 can have severe consequences for affected systems and organizations. An attacker can gain complete control of the Aspera Orchestrator server, leading to:

Data Breach: Unauthorized access to sensitive data managed by the Orchestrator, including file transfer logs, configuration details, and potentially the content of transferred files.
System Compromise: Complete control over the Orchestrator server, allowing the attacker to install malware, modify system configurations, and disrupt services.
Lateral Movement: The compromised Orchestrator server can be used as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network.
Denial of Service: The attacker can crash the Orchestrator service, preventing legitimate users from accessing and using the file transfer capabilities.

Remediation

Immediate Actions

Apply the Patch: Upgrade IBM Aspera Orchestrator to a patched version that addresses CVE-2025-13481. Refer to the IBM Security Bulletin for specific patch details and download links.
Review Access Controls: Ensure that access to the Aspera Orchestrator is restricted to authorized users only. Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication where possible.

Long-term Solutions

Input Validation: Implement robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent command injection vulnerabilities.
Least Privilege: Run the Aspera Orchestrator process with the minimum necessary privileges to reduce the impact of a successful attack.
Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

References

Detection & Scanning

Organizations can detect this vulnerability by scanning their systems for vulnerable versions of IBM Aspera Orchestrator. Vulnerability scanners can identify systems running versions 4.0.0 through 4.1.0. Additionally, monitoring system logs for suspicious activity, such as unexpected command executions or unauthorized access attempts, can help detect potential exploitation attempts.

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