Overview
The cybersecurity community has recently identified a notable vulnerability in the “Proxy” functionality of the ctrlX OS web application. This vulnerability, known as CVE-2025-24346, presents a threat to users who have authenticated access to the system, offering low-level attackers the opportunity to manipulate the system’s “/etc/environment” file through a specially crafted HTTP request. This could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-24346
Severity: High (7.5 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
Product | Affected Versions
ctrlX OS | All versions prior to patch
How the Exploit Works
The exploit takes advantage of the “Proxy” functionality in the ctrlX OS web application. A remote attacker with authenticated access to the system can craft a specific HTTP request that, when processed by the application, results in the manipulation of the “/etc/environment” file. This action can alter the system behaviors or potentially leak sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
POST /proxy/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.ctrlx-os.com
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer [User's Authenticated Token]
{ "target_file": "/etc/environment", "alteration": "malicious_change" }
This request, when processed by the vulnerable application, would result in the “/etc/environment” file being manipulated as per the attacker’s intentions.
Mitigation Strategies
Users are strongly advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. Until then, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation, helping to monitor and block any potentially malicious HTTP requests.
