CVE-2025-27925 in Automation
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2025
Nintex Automation 5.6 and 5.7 before 5.8 has insecure deserialization of user input.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-27925 affects Nintex Automation versions 5.6 and 5.7 prior to 5.8, representing a critical insecure deserialization flaw that exposes the system to remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-provided data during the deserialization process, where untrusted input is directly converted back into objects without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable system, can execute arbitrary code on the target server with the privileges of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper input validation mechanisms during the deserialization phase. When user input is received through various endpoints such as API calls, form submissions, or file uploads, the system attempts to deserialize this data into native objects without adequate security controls. This creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious serialized objects that can trigger unintended behavior when the system processes them. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, and represents a common attack vector that has been exploited across numerous enterprise applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, potentially allowing attackers to achieve complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands on the affected server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or further network infiltration. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Nintex Automation is commonly used for workflow automation and document management within enterprise environments, making it a valuable target for threat actors seeking persistent access to critical business systems. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it especially dangerous in environments where the application is exposed to untrusted networks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the available patch from Nintex that addresses the insecure deserialization issue. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the affected systems, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious deserialization activities. Security teams should also consider implementing application firewalls or web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious serialization attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched environment to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in functionality. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving deserialization attacks and remote code execution, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications within their environment that may be susceptible to similar deserialization flaws, as the attack pattern is commonly found in enterprise software stacks.