CVE-2025-53375 in dokploy
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2025
Dokploy is a self-hostable Platform as a Service (PaaS) that simplifies the deployment and management of applications and databases. An authenticated attacker can read any file that the Traefik process user can access (e.g., /etc/passwd, application source, environment variable files containing credentials and secrets). This may lead to full compromise of other services or lateral movement. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.23.7.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2025
CVE-2025-53375 represents a critical path traversal vulnerability within Dokploy, a self-hostable platform as a service designed to streamline application and database deployment. This flaw exists in the application's handling of file access requests and allows authenticated attackers to exploit a privilege escalation vector through the Traefik reverse proxy component. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper access controls when processing file system requests, creating an opportunity for attackers to bypass normal security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables an authenticated user to access files that are normally restricted to the Traefik process user context. This includes sensitive system files such as /etc/passwd, which contains user account information, as well as application source code and environment variable files that typically store credentials, API keys, and other confidential data. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the Dokploy interface and underlying system processes, allowing privilege escalation from a standard authenticated user to a more elevated system access level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating significant risk for organizations relying on Dokploy for their deployment infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain access to complete application source code repositories, sensitive configuration files containing database credentials, and environment variables that may include API keys, encryption secrets, and other critical system information. This access enables full compromise of the affected services and provides pathways for lateral movement within the network infrastructure, as demonstrated by the potential for accessing other services running on the same system or network segment. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege and undermines the security isolation between different application components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-53375 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided fix in version 0.23.7, which addresses the underlying input validation and access control issues. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Dokploy deployments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement additional monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. Network segmentation and access control policies should be reviewed to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation, while regular security audits of deployed applications should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-798 Use of Hard-coded Credentials, and may be exploited using techniques consistent with ATT&CK tactics such as privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions and privilege management controls to reduce the impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly those handling system-level operations. It highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code review processes to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced across all deployed services to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement security awareness training for developers to prevent similar issues in future application development cycles and maintain robust incident response procedures for rapid detection and remediation of security breaches.