Critical Zero-Day Vulnerabilities Found in Ivanti VPN Appliances

Introduction

Ivanti, a leading provider of enterprise security solutions, has disclosed two critical zero-day vulnerabilities, CVE-2025-0282 and CVE-2025-0283, in its Connect Secure VPN appliances. These vulnerabilities pose severe risks, including unauthorized remote code execution and privilege escalation, and highlight the persistent threats faced by enterprise systems. The situation has already seen active exploitation, raising concerns for businesses and organizations relying on Ivanti’s solutions.

Detailed Overview of the Vulnerabilities

CVE-2025-0282

Severity: Critical (CVSS Score: 9.0)
Type: Stack-based Buffer Overflow
Impact: Allows unauthenticated remote attackers to run arbitrary code..
Affected Products:
- Ivanti Connect Secure (ICS) versions prior to 22.7R2.5
- Ivanti Policy Secure (IPS) versions prior to 22.7R1.2
- ZTA gateway versions prior to 22.7R2.3 that use IIvanti Neurons
Exploitation: A small number of cases have been confirmed to involve active exploitation.

CVE-2025-0283

Severity: High (CVSS Score: 7.0)
Type: Stack-based Buffer Overflow
Impact: Enables local authenticated users to escalate privileges.
Affected Products: Same as CVE-2025-0282
Exploitation: Not observed in the wild as of the disclosure date.

Active Exploitation and Threat Actor Activity

Ivanti confirmed that CVE-2025-0282 has been exploited by sophisticated threat actors, with activities linked to the threat group UNC5337. This group is believed to operate under the larger cluster of UNC5221. Key observations include:

Malware Tools Deployed:
- SPAWNANT: An installer used to initiate malicious payloads.
- SPAWNMOLE: A tunneler facilitating covert communication.
- SPAWNSNAIL: An SSH backdoor enabling persistent access.

The attackers used these tools to establish command-and-control (C2) channels, exfiltrate sensitive data, and compromise enterprise systems. These activities indicate the growing risks posed by advanced persistent threats (APTs) targeting critical infrastructure.

Ivanti’s Response and Mitigation Measures

In response to these vulnerabilities, Ivanti has issued an emergency patch and recommended immediate action for affected users:

For Connect Secure Users:

Upgrade to version 22.7R2.5 immediately.
If the Integrity Checker Tool (ICT) scan reveals indicators of compromise, carry out a factory reset before applying the patch.

For Policy Secure and ZTA Gateway Users:

Ensure systems are not exposed to the internet.
Await the scheduled patch release on January 21, 2025.

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

To assist enterprises in identifying compromised systems, Ivanti released a detailed list of IoCs. These include:

Malicious Files

Web Shells:
- restAuth.cgi
- getComponent.cgi
Malware:
- libsshd.so (SSH backdoor)
- libupgrade.so (Installer)
- liblogblock.so (Log tampering utility)

Malicious Domains

oastify[.]com
oast-row.byted-dast[.]com

Ivanti also encourages using its Integrity Checker Tool (ICT) for detecting unauthorized changes. This program captures a snapshot of an appliance’s current state by checking file integrity and detecting malicious changes.

Challenges in Detection and Anti-Forensic Efforts

Threat actors have used anti-forensic methods to avoid being discovered, such as:

Reverting compromised appliances to a clean state.
Recalculating file hashes to match expected values.
Using sophisticated tools to cover their tracks.

These measures highlight the advanced capabilities of threat actors and the limitations of traditional detection methods. While Ivanti’s ICT tool is effective in detecting active compromises, it cannot identify past malicious activity if evidence has been removed.

Implications for Enterprise Cybersecurity

The discovery of these zero-day vulnerabilities emphasizes critical cybersecurity concerns:

Sophistication of Threat Actors:
Groups like UNC5337 are leveraging advanced techniques, making detection and mitigation increasingly difficult.
Timely Patching:
Delays in applying patches can leave systems exposed to exploitation.
Proactive Monitoring:
Risk mitigation requires constant observation and up-to-date threat intelligence.

Importance of Incident Response Plans:
Organizations must have robust plans to respond quickly to vulnerabilities and breaches.

Conclusion

Ivanti VPN appliances’ serious zero-day vulnerabilities are a sobering reminder of the constantly changing threat landscape. Organizations must act swiftly to implement patches, monitor for IoCs, and strengthen their cybersecurity measures. Ivanti’s proactive disclosure and emergency updates underscore the importance of collaboration between security providers and users in addressing vulnerabilities effectively.

By staying informed and vigilant, enterprises can mitigate risks and safeguard their digital infrastructure against emerging threats.

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