CVE-2025-0745: Thesamur Embedai Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-0745 Overview

CVE-2025-0745 is an Improper Access Control vulnerability [CWE-284] affecting EmbedAI version 2.1 and earlier. The flaw permits an authenticated attacker to retrieve database backup files by directly requesting the /embedai/app/uploads/database/<SQL_FILE> endpoint. Because the application fails to enforce authorization on this path, any authenticated user can download .sql backup artifacts that should be restricted to administrators. These backups typically contain sensitive application data, including user records and embedding content. The vulnerability affects confidentiality but does not impact integrity or availability.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can exfiltrate complete database backups from vulnerable EmbedAI deployments, exposing all stored application data.

Affected Products

Thesamur EmbedAI 2.1
Thesamur EmbedAI prior versions (2.0 and below)
Deployments exposing the /embedai/app/uploads/database/ path

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-30 - CVE-2025-0745 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-0745

Vulnerability Analysis

EmbedAI stores database backup files inside a web-accessible directory under /embedai/app/uploads/database/. The application does not enforce access control checks on requests to this directory. Any user who has authenticated to the platform can request the SQL backup files directly by URL. The impact is limited to information disclosure, but the disclosed content is a full database export.

An attacker who knows or guesses the backup filename can issue an HTTP GET request against the endpoint and receive the raw SQL dump. Backup filenames often follow predictable patterns based on timestamps or database names, making enumeration practical. Because the vulnerability requires only low-privilege authentication, insider threats and compromised low-tier accounts represent the primary risk.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing authorization on static file responses served from the uploads/database/ directory. The web layer treats these files as publicly serviceable static assets rather than protected administrative resources. There is no role check, no ownership check, and no server-side gate preventing standard users from retrieving administrator-only artifacts.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the EmbedAI web interface and valid low-privilege credentials. The attacker authenticates, then issues a direct HTTP request to a known or enumerated SQL filename under the exposed directory. No user interaction, elevated privileges, or complex tooling is required. Refer to the INCIBE Notice on Multiple Vulnerabilities for the coordinated disclosure details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0745

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP GET requests to paths matching /embedai/app/uploads/database/*.sql from non-administrative user sessions.
Outbound transfers of large SQL files from the EmbedAI application server to unusual client IP addresses.
Repeated 200 OK responses to directory enumeration attempts against the uploads/database/ path.

Detection Strategies

Review web server access logs for any request targeting the /embedai/app/uploads/database/ directory and correlate against the requesting user's role.
Alert on any authenticated user session that downloads files with .sql, .dump, or .bak extensions from the EmbedAI application.
Baseline normal administrative access patterns and flag deviations, such as backup retrieval outside scheduled maintenance windows.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose access logging on the reverse proxy or web server fronting EmbedAI.
Forward EmbedAI application and web logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation with authentication events.
Monitor filesystem access on the backup directory using host-based auditing tools such as auditd.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0745

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict web server access to the /embedai/app/uploads/database/ path using authentication and role-based rules at the reverse proxy layer.
Move existing SQL backup files out of the web root to a location not served by the application.
Rotate any credentials, API keys, or secrets that may have been stored in exposed backup files.
Audit web server logs for prior unauthorized access to the vulnerable endpoint.

Patch Information

As of the last NVD update on 2026-06-17, no vendor advisory URL is listed in the CVE record. Administrators should consult the INCIBE Notice on Multiple Vulnerabilities and the EmbedAI project repository for a fixed release. Upgrade to a version later than 2.1 once available from the vendor.

Workarounds

Configure the web server to deny all requests to the uploads/database/ path and return HTTP 403.
Store database backups outside the application document root and transfer them via out-of-band mechanisms.
Enforce strict role-based access control at a reverse proxy such as Nginx or Apache in front of EmbedAI.

bash

# Nginx configuration to block direct access to the backup directory
location ~* /embedai/app/uploads/database/ {
    deny all;
    return 403;
}