CVE-2025-32633: Path Traversal Vulnerability in neoslab Database Toolset

Overview

CVE-2025-32633 represents a critical vulnerability in the neoslab Database Toolset that could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability stems from an improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, also known as a ‘Path Traversal’ vulnerability. The vulnerability affects a wide range of software applications, particularly those utilizing the neoslab Database Toolset, up to and including version 1.8.4. Given the severity of potential impacts, understanding and mitigating this vulnerability is of paramount importance for any organization using this toolset.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-32633
Severity: Critical (CVSS: 8.6)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

neoslab Database Toolset | 1.8.4 and earlier

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability stems from the improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. In essence, a malicious actor can manipulate file and directory paths to access files outside of the restricted directory. This allows the attacker to bypass security protocols and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources, leading to a potential system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

The following is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:

GET /download?file=../../../etc/passwd HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-website.com

In the above example, the attacker is trying to access the ‘passwd’ file, which is typically located in the /etc directory. By using the ‘../’ character sequence, the attacker can traverse up to the root directory, and then navigate to the /etc directory, effectively bypassing the file path restrictions.

Mitigation Guidance

The optimal mitigation strategy is to apply the vendor-provided patch for the neoslab Database Toolset. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide a temporary mitigation measure. These systems can be configured to detect and block path traversal attempts, thereby limiting the vulnerability’s potential impact.