CVE-2025-35940 in Archiver
Summary
by MITRE • 06/11/2025
The ArchiverSpaApi ASP.NET application uses a hard-coded JWT signing key. An unauthenticated remote attacker can generate and use a verifiable JWT token to access protected ArchiverSpaApi URL endpoints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-35940 represents a critical security flaw in the ArchiverSpaApi ASP.NET application that stems from improper cryptographic key management practices. This issue manifests through the use of a hard-coded JSON Web Token (JWT) signing key within the application's source code or configuration files. The presence of such a hard-coded key violates fundamental security principles and creates a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to protected resources. The flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to generate valid JWT tokens that can bypass authentication mechanisms and gain access to restricted API endpoints.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the predictable nature of the hard-coded signing key, which remains static throughout the application's deployment lifecycle. When an attacker discovers or reverse-engineers the hardcoded key, they can generate authentic JWT tokens that the application will accept as valid credentials. This process typically involves extracting the key through source code analysis, network traffic inspection, or other reconnaissance methods. Once obtained, the attacker can craft JWT tokens with arbitrary claims and expiration times, effectively impersonating legitimate users or gaining administrative privileges within the application's security boundaries. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-320, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded cryptographic keys, and represents a classic example of poor key management practices in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the application's scope. An attacker with access to protected endpoints could extract sensitive data, modify or delete information, manipulate application state, or escalate privileges to gain deeper system access. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior credentials or session information are required, making the exploitation particularly dangerous. This vulnerability also creates a persistent threat since the hard-coded key remains unchanged across application deployments, allowing attackers to maintain access even after system updates or restarts. The implications are especially severe for applications handling sensitive data or critical business functions, as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-35940 require immediate remediation of the hard-coded JWT signing key through proper cryptographic key management practices. Organizations should implement dynamic key generation and rotation mechanisms, utilizing secure key management solutions such as hardware security modules or cloud-based key management services. The application should be reconfigured to retrieve signing keys from secure external sources rather than embedding them within code or configuration files. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect unauthorized token usage patterns, providing early warning capabilities. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify other instances of hard-coded credentials or cryptographic keys, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities do not exist elsewhere in the application stack. This remediation effort aligns with the principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and defense evasion tactics, emphasizing the importance of proper key management and secure application architecture practices.