CVE-2025-10242 Overview
CVE-2025-10242 is an operating system (OS) command injection vulnerability in the admin panel of Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM). The flaw affects EPMM versions before 12.6.0.2, 12.5.0.4, and 12.4.0.4. A remote authenticated attacker with administrator privileges can inject arbitrary OS commands through the admin interface to achieve remote code execution on the underlying host. The weakness is classified under [CWE-78] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command).
Critical Impact
An authenticated administrator can execute arbitrary commands on the EPMM server, leading to full compromise of the mobile device management infrastructure and all enrolled endpoints.
Affected Products
- Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile versions prior to 12.6.0.2
- Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile versions prior to 12.5.0.4
- Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile versions prior to 12.4.0.4
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-10-14 - CVE-2025-10242 published to NVD
- 2025-10-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-10242
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the EPMM administrative panel, where user-supplied input reaches an OS command execution context without proper neutralization. An authenticated administrator can inject shell metacharacters or additional commands into parameters processed by the server. The injected payload executes with the privileges of the EPMM application process. Successful exploitation grants the attacker the ability to run arbitrary commands, read sensitive configuration, modify device policies, and pivot deeper into the managed mobility environment. The EPSS score of 21.105% places this issue in the 97th percentile, indicating elevated likelihood of exploitation activity compared to the broader CVE population.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements passed to an OS command [CWE-78]. Input fields exposed through the admin panel are concatenated into shell command strings without sanitization, escaping, or use of parameterized execution APIs. Shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, backticks, and $() are not filtered before the command is dispatched to the operating system.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based but requires high privileges. An attacker must first authenticate to the EPMM admin panel with administrator credentials. Credential theft, phishing of administrative users, or compromise of a federated identity provider all provide viable preconditions. Once authenticated, the attacker submits a crafted request containing OS command separators or substitution syntax to a vulnerable admin endpoint. The EPMM server interprets the payload as part of a shell command and executes the attacker's injected operations.
No public proof-of-concept code or exploit module has been published at the time of writing. Refer to the Ivanti Security Advisory for vendor-supplied technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-10242
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes (such as /bin/sh, bash, nc, curl, wget, python) spawned by the EPMM Java or Tomcat application process.
- Outbound network connections from the EPMM host to unfamiliar external addresses shortly after administrator activity.
- New or modified files in EPMM application directories, web roots, or cron locations following admin panel access.
- Anomalous admin panel HTTP requests containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, `, or $(.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web access logs for requests to admin panel endpoints containing command separators or URL-encoded shell metacharacters.
- Correlate administrator authentication events with subsequent process execution telemetry on the EPMM host to identify shell spawns originating from the application user.
- Hunt for executions of reconnaissance binaries (id, whoami, uname, cat /etc/passwd) parented by the EPMM service.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward EPMM audit logs, Tomcat access logs, and host process telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for correlation.
- Alert on any successful admin panel login originating from atypical IP ranges, especially outside business hours.
- Track integrity of EPMM binaries, configuration files, and web application directories with file integrity monitoring.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-10242
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade EPMM to version 12.6.0.2, 12.5.0.4, 12.4.0.4, or later as appropriate for your release train.
- Restrict admin panel access to a dedicated management network or VPN and block exposure to the public internet.
- Audit all administrator accounts, remove unused privileged users, and enforce multi-factor authentication on remaining accounts.
- Rotate administrator credentials and API tokens that may have been used during the exposure window.
Patch Information
Ivanti has released fixed builds 12.6.0.2, 12.5.0.4, and 12.4.0.4 addressing this command injection issue. Patch details and download locations are documented in the Ivanti Security Advisory: EPMM 10-2025 Multiple CVEs. Administrators should apply the patch on a tested change window and validate device check-in functionality after the upgrade.
Workarounds
- Limit administrator panel reachability to a small allow-list of trusted source IP addresses using a perimeter firewall or reverse proxy ACL.
- Disable or remove dormant administrator accounts to reduce the number of credentials an attacker could leverage.
- Increase logging verbosity on the admin panel and review logs daily until patching is complete.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
