Firewall

Security Advisory

Linux Kernel Exploitation in ksmbd (CVE-2025-37899) Discovered with AI Assistance

Summary: A high-severity use-after-free vulnerability (CVE-2025-37899) has been discovered in the ksmbd component of the Linux kernel, which implements the SMB3 protocol for file sharing.

OEMLinux
SeverityHigh
CVSS ScoreN/A
CVEsCVE-2025-37899
Actively ExploitedNo
Exploited in WildNo
Advisory Version1.0

Overview

The vulnerability, confirmed on May 20, 2025 which was uncovered through AI-assisted code analysis using OpenAI’s o3 model. It affects multiple versions of the Linux kernel and may lead to arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges. As of now, no official fix is available, but Linux distributions including SUSE team are actively working on patches.

Vulnerability NameCVE IDProduct AffectedSeverity
​ksmbd use-after-free vulnerability  CVE-2025-37899Linux kernel  High

Technical Summary

The vulnerability lies in the ksmbd kernel server component responsible for SMB3 protocol handling.

A use-after-free bug occurs when one thread processes a logoff command and frees the sess->user object, while another thread bound to the same session attempts to access the same object simultaneously. This results in a race condition that can lead to memory corruption and potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

CVE IDSystem AffectedVulnerability DetailsImpact
    CVE-2025-37899  Linux kernel (ksmbd)A race condition during handling of SMB2 LOGOFF commands. sess->user is freed in one thread while still being accessed in another, leading to a classic use-after-free vulnerability. The absence of synchronization around sess->user allows attackers to exploit the freed memory during concurrent SMB operations.  Kernel memory corruption, privilege escalation, remote code execution

Remediation:

  • Fix status: As of now, an official fix has not been released. Linux distributions, including SUSE, are actively developing and testing patches.

General Recommendations

  • Monitor your distribution’s security advisories and apply patches as soon as they are available.
  • Consider disabling or restricting ksmbd (in-kernel SMB3 server) if not explicitly required.
  • Use firewall rules to restrict access to SMB services to trusted networks.
  • Employ kernel hardening options (e.g. memory protections, SELinux/AppArmor policies).
  • Audit SMB traffic for signs of abnormal session setup and teardown behavior.

Conclusion:
CVE-2025-37899 highlights the increasing role of AI in modern vulnerability discovery and the complex nature of concurrency bugs in kernel components. While no fix is yet available, administrators should apply defense-in-depth strategies and watch for updates from their Linux vendors.

The discovery underscores the importance of rigorous code audits, especially in components exposed to network traffic and multithreaded processing.

References:

Security Advisory

Critical Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Motors WordPress Theme

Summary: A critical privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2025-4322) has been identified in the Motors WordPress theme, a widely used premium theme tailored for car dealerships, rentals, and vehicle listings.

OEMWordPress
SeverityCritical
CVSS Score9.8
CVEsCVE-2025-4322
Actively ExploitedNo
Exploited in WildNo
Advisory Version1.0

Overview This vulnerability affects versions up to 5.6.67 and could allow unauthenticated attackers to reset passwords for any user, including administrators, leading to complete site compromise. The issue has been addressed in version 5.6.68, and immediate patching is strongly recommended.

Vulnerability NameCVE IDProduct AffectedSeverityFixed Version
​Privilege Escalation via Password Reset Bypass  CVE-2025-4322Motors WordPress Theme  Critical  5.6.68

Technical Summary

The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation in the Login Register widget of the Motors theme, specifically within the password-recovery.php template. An attacker can manipulate the hash_check parameter using an invalid UTF-8 character, which is improperly sanitized by the esc_attr() function. This allows the attacker to bypass password reset validations and change passwords without authorization, even for administrator accounts.

CVE IDSystem AffectedVulnerability DetailsImpact
    CVE-2025-4322  Motors WordPress Theme (<= 5.6.67)The password-recovery.php file fails to properly validate whether the stm_lost_password_hash exists and is correct. If the hash is empty (e.g. – no reset was requested), an attacker can bypass the check using an invalid UTF-8 character. The esc_attr() sanitization strips the invalid character after validation, resulting in a successful hash match and unauthorized password update.  Complete site compromise.

Remediation:

  • Immediately update: To mitigate the vulnerability, users of the Motors WordPress theme should immediately update to version 5.6.68 or later.

Conclusion:
CVE-2025-4322 is a critical privilege escalation vulnerability affecting over 22,000+ WordPress sites using the Motors theme.

Exploiting this flaw, unauthenticated attackers can reset administrator passwords and gain full control of vulnerable sites. The vulnerability was responsibly disclosed and swiftly addressed by the vendor, with a patched version (5.6.68) released.

Given the ease of exploitation and potential for full site compromise, users are strongly advised to update immediately.

Organizations relying on the Motors theme should also implement multi-layered security practices, such as web application firewalls, routine patching, and access monitoring, to safeguard their digital assets against similar threats in the future.

References:

Security Advisory

Authentication Bypass Vulnerability in FortiOS & FortiProxy 

Summary 

A critical authentication bypass vulnerability [CWE-288] has been identified in FortiOS and FortiProxy, tracked as CVE-2025-24472 . This is affecting their affecting FortiOS and FortiProxy products and being exploited in the wild.

OEM Fortinet 
Severity Critical 
CVSS 9.6 
CVEs CVE-2025-24472 
Exploited in Wild Yes 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

This flaw, with the CVSSv3 score of 9.6, could allow a remote attacker to obtain super-admin privileges by sending specially crafted requests to the Node.js WebSocket module.

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
Authentication Bypass Vulnerability CVE-2025-24472 FortiOS FortiProxy Critical  FortiOS v7.0 – v7.0.16   FortiProxy v7.0 – v7.0.19 FortiProxy v7.2 – v7.2.12 

Technical Summary 

CVE ID Vulnerability Details Impact 
  CVE-2025-24472   An authentication bypass using an alternate path (CWE-288) vulnerability in FortiOS and FortiProxy , present in certain versions, could enable a remote attacker to obtain super-admin privileges by sending requests to the Node.js websocket module or by crafting CSF proxy requests.   Execute unauthorized code or commands 

Recommendations: 

  • Update: Ensure that the appropriate patches or updates are applied to the relevant versions listed below 
Version Fixes and Releases 
FortiOS 7.0 – 7.0.16 Upgrade to 7.0.17 or latest version 
FortiProxy 7.0 – 7.0.19 Upgrade to 7.0.20 or latest version 
FortiProxy 7.2 – 7.2.12 Upgrade to 7.2.13 or latest version 

Workarounds: 

Below are some workarounds provided by the Fortinet team. 

  • Disable HTTP/HTTPS administrative interface 
  • Limit IP addresses that can reach the administrative interface via local-in policies 

According to Fortinet, attackers exploit the two vulnerabilities to generate random admin or local users on affected devices, adding them to new and existing SSL VPN user groups. They have also been seen modifying firewall policies and other configurations and accessing SSLVPN instances with previously established rogue accounts “to gain a tunnel to the internal network.network.”

References: 

Security Advisory

Important Security Alert: SonicWall Issues Patch for SSL-VPN Vulnerabilities 

SonicWall has released an Critical advisory urging administrators to address a critical vulnerability in its SSL-VPN product.

The flaw, identified as CVE-2024-53704, poses a significant security risk, allowing attackers to exploit the system remotely. Administrators are strongly encouraged to update their systems immediately to mitigate potential threats. SonicWall has released an Critical advisory urging administrators to address a critical vulnerability in its SSL-VPN product.

Key Details:

  • The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
  • It impacts SonicWall’s SSL-VPN products, widely used for secure remote access.
  • Exploitation of this bug could lead to severe consequences, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, network infiltration, and system compromise.

Summary 

OEM SonicWall 
Severity High 
CVSS 8.2 
CVEs CVE-2024-53704 
Exploited in Wild No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

The security flaw, tracked as CVE-2024-53704, presents a serious risk, enabling remote exploitation by attackers. Administrators are highly advised to apply the necessary patches without delay to protect against potential threats.  

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
Improper Authentication CVE-2024-53704 SonicWall  High 7.1.x (7.1.1-7058 and older), 7.1.2-7019 
8.0.0-8035 
A privilege escalation vulnerability CVE-2024-53706 SonicWall High  7.1.x (7.1.1-7058 and older), 7.1.2-7019 
A weakness in the SSLVPN authentication token generator CVE-2024-40762 SonicWall High  7.1.x (7.1.1-7058 and older), 7.1.2-7019 
A server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability CVE-2024-53705 SonicWall Medium 6.5.4.15-117n and older 
7.0.x (7.0.1-5161 and older) 

Technical Summary 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
 CVE-2024-53704  Gen7 Firewalls, Gen7 NSv, TZ80 An Improper Authentication vulnerability in the SSLVPN authentication mechanism allows a remote attacker to bypass authentication.  Bypass authentication 
 CVE-2024-53706  Gen7 Cloud Platform NSv A vulnerability in the Gen7 SonicOS Cloud platform NSv (AWS and Azure editions only), allows a remote authenticated local low-privileged attacker to elevate privileges to `root` and potentially lead to code execution.  Allow attackers to gain root privileges and potentially execute code. 
  CVE-2024-40762  Gen7 Firewalls, Gen7 NSv, TZ80 Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) in the SonicOS SSLVPN authentication token generator that, in certain cases, can be predicted by an attacker potentially resulting in authentication bypass. Weak PRNG in authentication tokens can lead to authentication bypass in SSLVPN. 
 CVE-2024-53705  Gen6 Hardware Firewalls, Gen7 Firewalls, Gen7 NSv A Server-Side Request Forgery vulnerability in the SonicOS SSH management interface allows a remote attacker to establish a TCP connection to an IP address on any port when the user is logged in to the firewall. Allow attackers to establish TCP connections to arbitrary IP addresses and ports 

Remediation: 

  • Update: Impacted users are recommended to upgrade to the following versions to address the security risk: 
 Firewalls Versions Fixes and Releases 
Gen 6 / 6.5 hardware firewalls SonicOS 6.5.5.1-6n or newer 
Gen 6 / 6.5 NSv firewalls SonicOS 6.5.4.v-21s-RC2457 or newer 
Gen 7 firewalls SonicOS 7.0.1-5165 or newer; 7.1.3-7015 and higher 
TZ80: SonicOS SonicOS 8.0.0-8037 or newer 

Recommendations: 

  • Patch Without Delay: Install the latest firmware update from SonicWall to resolve this vulnerability. Detailed instructions are available in SonicWall’s official advisory. 
  • Monitor Network Activity: Regularly monitor network traffic for signs of suspicious or unauthorized access. 
  • Limit Access: Restrict VPN access to trusted users and enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all accounts. 
  • Stay Updated: Subscribe to SonicWall’s security alerts and updates to stay informed about upcoming vulnerabilities. 

References: 

Security Advisory

Denial of Service Vulnerability in DNS Security Feature of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS 

Summary 

OEM Palo Alto 
Severity High 
CVSS 8.7 
CVEs CVE-2024-3393 
Exploited in Wild  No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

A Denial-of-Service vulnerability in the DNS Security feature of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software allows an unauthenticated attacker to send a malicious packet through the data plane of the firewall that reboots the firewall. Repeated attempts to trigger this condition will cause the firewall to enter maintenance mode.  

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
(DoS) in DNS Security Using a Specially Crafted Packet CVE-2024-3393   Palo Alto High PAN-OS 11.2 – < 11.2.3* PAN-OS 11.1 – < 11.1.5* PAN-OS 10.2 – >= 10.2.8*, <10.2.14* PAN-OS 10.1 – >= 10.1.14*, <10.1.15* 

Technical Summary 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2024-3393   Palo Alto PAN-OS CVE-2024-3393 is a high-severity DoS vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS exists in the DNS Security feature, where malformed DNS packets are improperly parsed and logged. If exploited, this vulnerability enables an unauthenticated attacker to remotely trigger a firewall reboot. Repeated exploitation attempts can cause the firewall to enter maintenance mode. CISA added it to the KEV catalog, with patching required by January 20, 2025.     Dos – Denial-of-Service 

Remediation: 

  • Update: Ensure that the appropriate patches or updates are applied to the relevant PAN-OS versions as listed below 
PAN-OS Version Fixes and Releases 
PAN-OS 11.1 11.1.2-h16, 11.1.3-h13, 11.1.4-h7, 11.1.5 
PAN-OS 10.2 10.2.8-h19, 10.2.9-h19, 10.2.10-h12, 10.2.11-h10, 10.2.12-h4, 10.2.13-h2, 10.2.14 
PAN-OS 10.1 10.1.14-h8, 10.1.15 
PAN-OS 10.2.9-h19 Only applicable to Prisma Access 
PAN-OS 10.2.10-h12 Only applicable to Prisma Access 
PAN-OS 11.0 No fix (reached end-of-life status on November 17, 2024) 

Recommendations: 

  • Avoid Using EOL Versions: 
  • PAN-OS 11.0 is end-of-life (EOL) as of November 17, 2024. Ensure that you are not using this version and upgrade to be supported versions. 
  • Monitoring & Incident Response: 
  • Regularly monitor firewall logs for unusual behavior, especially DoS triggers. 
  • For Prisma Access Users (Workaround): 
  • Disable DNS Security logging across all NGFWs if patching cannot be applied immediately. This can be done by opening a support case with Palo Alto Networks. 

References: 

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