CVE-2025-0282: Critical Zero-Day Vulnerability in Ivanti Products

CVE-2025-0282 is a critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Ivanti’s Connect Secure, Policy Secure, and Neurons for Zero Trust Access (ZTA) products. This flaw allows unauthenticated, remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected devices, posing a significant risk to enterprise networks and sensitive data.

The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of user input within specific components of the affected products. Exploitation of this flaw could result in the compromise of entire systems, enabling attackers to install malicious payloads, steal sensitive data, or disrupt business operations.

This vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild, making it an urgent priority for organizations using the affected products to take immediate action.

What is Vulnerable to CVE-2025-0282?

The following Ivanti products and versions are vulnerable to CVE-2025-0282:

• Ivanti Connect Secure: Versions 22.7R2 through 22.7R2.4
• Ivanti Policy Secure: Versions 22.7R1 through 22.7R1.2
• Ivanti Neurons for ZTA Gateways: Versions 22.7R2 through 22.7R2.3

Key Risk Factors:

1. Internet-Exposed Devices: Devices exposed to the internet are at higher risk of exploitation.
2. Unpatched Systems: Organizations that have not yet applied the latest security updates are particularly vulnerable.
3. Critical Business Use Cases: These products are often used in environments requiring high availability and secure access, making successful exploitation highly disruptive.

Mitigation and Remediation for CVE-2025-0282

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-0282, Ivanti has provided the following guidance:

1. Apply Security Updates

• For Ivanti Connect Secure, update to version 22.7R2.5, which addresses this vulnerability.
• For Ivanti Policy Secure and Neurons for ZTA Gateways, patches are expected to be released by January 21, 2025. Regularly check Ivanti’s security advisory page for updates.

2. Perform Integrity Checks

Use Ivanti’s Integrity Checker Tool (ICT) to ensure systems are uncompromised:

• If the tool detects no signs of compromise, perform a factory reset before upgrading.
• If compromise is detected, a factory reset is mandatory to eliminate malware before applying the patch.

3. Restrict Network Access

• Ensure that affected devices are not directly accessible from the internet.
• Use firewalls and access control lists (ACLs) to limit network traffic to trusted sources.

4. Monitor Systems

• Enable detailed logging and review for any unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor and block suspicious traffic.

5. Implement Temporary Workarounds

Until patches are applied, consider limiting functionality and access to the affected systems as a temporary measure to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Impact of Successful Exploitation of CVE-2025-0282

The exploitation of CVE-2025-0282 can have severe consequences for organizations, including:

1. Remote Code Execution

Attackers can execute arbitrary commands or deploy malicious payloads on the affected systems, gaining full control.

2. System Compromise

Exploitation can lead to the compromise of critical systems, enabling attackers to:

• Install backdoors for persistent access.
• Use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks.

3. Data Breach

Sensitive data, including user credentials, business documents, and confidential information, could be exfiltrated by attackers.

4. Service Disruption

Successful exploitation could disrupt business operations by rendering the affected devices unusable or forcing them offline.

5. Reputational and Financial Losses

Organizations may face regulatory fines, legal actions, and loss of customer trust due to data breaches or operational disruptions.

Proof of Concept for CVE-2025-0282

At the time of writing, no publicly available proof of concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2025-0282 has been released. However, Ivanti has confirmed that this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild, particularly targeting Connect Secure appliances.

Exploit Workflow:

1. An attacker sends a maliciously crafted input to the vulnerable component of the Ivanti product.
2. Due to insufficient bounds checking, the input causes a stack-based buffer overflow, allowing the attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code.
3. The attacker gains control of the system, potentially leading to data breaches, system disruptions, or lateral movement within the network.

Given the confirmed exploitation in real-world attacks, it is critical for organizations to act immediately to mitigate the risk.

CVE-2025-0282 is a critical vulnerability that poses significant risks to organizations using Ivanti’s Connect Secure, Policy Secure, and Neurons for ZTA products. With active exploitation in the wild, this vulnerability highlights the importance of timely patching, regular integrity checks, and robust access controls.

Organizations are strongly encouraged to:

• Apply Ivanti’s latest patches as soon as they are available.
• Limit network exposure to vulnerable devices.
• Use Ivanti’s Integrity Checker Tool to ensure system integrity.

By taking these proactive measures, businesses can protect their systems and data from the potentially devastating impacts of CVE-2025-0282.

For additional information and support, visit Ivanti’s security advisory page.