CVE-2025-5353 in Workspace Control
Summary
by MITRE • 06/10/2025
A hardcoded key in Ivanti Workspace Control before version 10.19.10.0 allows a local authenticated attacker to decrypt stored SQL credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-5353 represents a critical security flaw in Ivanti Workspace Control software, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.19.10.0. This issue stems from the presence of a hardcoded cryptographic key within the application's codebase, which creates a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw exists in the credential storage mechanism where SQL database authentication details are encrypted using a static key that remains unchanged across deployments. This hardcoded key serves as a backdoor that allows unauthorized access to sensitive database credentials, fundamentally undermining the security posture of organizations relying on this workspace management solution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of a static encryption key that is embedded directly within the software binaries rather than being dynamically generated or securely managed. When Ivanti Workspace Control stores SQL credentials, it utilizes this predetermined key to perform encryption operations, making the encrypted data susceptible to decryption by anyone who can access the application with local authentication privileges. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles of key management and encryption practices, as the key should be unique per installation and properly secured. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-327 weakness category, which specifically addresses the use of insecure or weak cryptographic algorithms and implementations. Attackers can leverage this hardcoded key to reverse-engineer encrypted database credentials, potentially gaining unauthorized access to corporate databases and sensitive information systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-5353 extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to organizational databases and potentially escalate privileges within the network infrastructure. A local authenticated attacker who can execute code on a system running the vulnerable Ivanti Workspace Control software can decrypt stored SQL credentials and use these to connect to backend databases, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even establish lateral movement within the network. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where workspace control solutions are used to manage user sessions, application access, and system configurations, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to maintain long-term access to critical infrastructure. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which focuses on credentials from password managers, and T1078.002, which addresses legitimate credentials used for lateral movement.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to Ivanti Workspace Control version 10.19.10.0 or later, which addresses this hardcoded key issue through proper key management implementation. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all systems running vulnerable versions to identify and remove any stored SQL credentials that may have been compromised. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to database systems. The remediation process must include thorough testing of the updated software to ensure that the cryptographic implementation properly generates unique keys for each deployment and that existing encrypted credentials are re-encrypted with new secure keys. Additionally, organizations should review their overall credential management practices and implement zero-trust principles to minimize the impact of similar vulnerabilities in other systems.