CVE-2025-6264 in Velociraptor
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2025
Velociraptor allows collection of VQL queries packaged into Artifacts from endpoints. These artifacts can be used to do anything and usually run with elevated permissions. To limit access to some dangerous artifact, Velociraptor allows for those to require high permissions like EXECVE to launch.
The Admin.Client.UpdateClientConfig is an artifact used to update the client's configuration. This artifact did not enforce an additional required permission, allowing users with COLLECT_CLIENT permissions (normally given by the "Investigator" role) to collect it from endpoints and update the configuration.
This can lead to arbitrary command execution and endpoint takeover.
To successfully exploit this vulnerability the user must already have access to collect artifacts from the endpoint (i.e. have the COLLECT_CLIENT given typically by the "Investigator' role).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2025
CVE-2025-6264 represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability within the Velociraptor security platform that undermines the intended access control mechanisms for artifact execution. This vulnerability exists in the administrative client configuration update functionality where the Admin.Client.UpdateClientConfig artifact fails to enforce proper permission checks. The flaw allows attackers with minimal privileges to escalate their access and gain full control over endpoint systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the existing COLLECT_CLIENT permission, which is typically granted to users with the Investigator role, to execute dangerous configuration updates that can lead to complete system compromise. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a critical design flaw in the permission validation system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper validation of artifact execution permissions within Velociraptor's artifact processing framework. The Admin.Client.UpdateClientConfig artifact should require elevated permissions such as EXECVE to prevent unauthorized configuration changes, but this additional security check is missing. When users with COLLECT_CLIENT permissions attempt to collect this specific artifact, they can bypass the normal permission enforcement mechanisms that would normally prevent such dangerous operations. This creates a pathway for privilege escalation where attackers can modify client configurations to execute arbitrary commands or establish persistent access. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of privilege management and artifact execution, where the system fails to properly validate that the requested operation aligns with the user's granted permissions. This flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and demonstrates how insufficient access control validation can lead to severe security implications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables complete endpoint takeover and arbitrary command execution capabilities. An attacker who has already established access to collect artifacts can leverage this vulnerability to modify client configurations, potentially installing malicious payloads, disabling security controls, or establishing backdoors. The ability to update client configurations means that attackers can modify how endpoints communicate with the Velociraptor server, potentially redirecting traffic, changing collection schedules, or altering security policies. This vulnerability essentially allows attackers to transform their initial access into full administrative control over endpoint systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where endpoint security is critical. The impact is amplified by the fact that the configuration updates can be performed silently without detection, as they appear to be legitimate administrative operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-6264 should focus on immediate patching of the Velociraptor platform to enforce proper permission validation for the Admin.Client.UpdateClientConfig artifact. Organizations should implement strict role-based access controls and ensure that users with COLLECT_CLIENT permissions are not granted unnecessary administrative capabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring of configuration update activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review existing artifact permissions and ensure that dangerous artifacts require appropriate elevated permissions such as EXECVE. This vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies where multiple layers of security controls work together to prevent privilege escalation attacks. The fix should be implemented according to ATT&CK framework principles, specifically addressing techniques related to privilege escalation and command and control operations. Regular security assessments of artifact execution permissions and access controls should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the system.