CVE-2025-6571 in AXIS OS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2025
A 3rd-party component exposed its password in process arguments, allowing for low-privileged users to access it.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in how third-party components handle authentication credentials within process execution contexts. The issue manifests when password values are passed as command-line arguments to processes, creating an exposed attack vector that violates fundamental security principles of credential handling. The vulnerability stems from improper secure coding practices where sensitive information flows through non-secure channels, specifically process arguments that are visible to all users with process enumeration capabilities.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the exposure of authentication credentials through operating system process argument structures. When applications invoke third-party components with passwords as command-line parameters, these values become visible in process listings, system monitoring tools, and various diagnostic interfaces. This exposure occurs because process arguments are typically stored in memory locations that are accessible to processes with appropriate privileges, creating a direct pathway for credential theft. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-255, which addresses issues related to credentials management and secure credential handling in software applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables low-privileged users to gain unauthorized access to systems and resources that should be protected by authentication mechanisms. The attack surface expands significantly as any user with basic process enumeration rights can extract these credentials from process arguments, potentially leading to privilege escalation or lateral movement within network environments. The impact is particularly severe because it undermines the fundamental security model of credential protection, allowing attackers to bypass normal authentication controls through simple process inspection techniques. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers "Credentials in Files" and represents how attackers can extract credentials from process memory and argument structures.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require comprehensive remediation of third-party component integration patterns and implementation of secure credential handling practices. Organizations should implement credential passing mechanisms that avoid exposing sensitive information through process arguments, utilizing secure methods such as environment variables with restricted permissions, secure configuration files with appropriate access controls, or direct memory-based credential passing through secure APIs. The solution must address both immediate remediation through code modifications and long-term architectural changes to prevent similar issues in future development cycles. Security teams should also implement process monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect potential credential exposure patterns and establish comprehensive access control policies that limit process enumeration capabilities. Additionally, regular security assessments of third-party components should include credential handling practices to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in operational environments.