CVE-2025-12140 Overview
CVE-2025-12140 is a critical code injection vulnerability [CWE-95] affecting an application that exposes an insecure redirectToUrl mechanism. The application processes the value of the redirectUrlParameter parameter and interprets the supplied string as a Java expression. An unauthenticated attacker can send a crafted request to trigger arbitrary code execution on the server. The issue was remediated in version wu#2016.1.5513#0#20251014_113353. CERT Polska published the coordinated analysis for this flaw.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network-based attackers can execute arbitrary Java code on vulnerable servers, leading to full system compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected Products
- Application exposing the redirectToUrl mechanism with the redirectUrlParameter parameter (vendor not disclosed in NVD entry)
- All versions prior to wu#2016.1.5513#0#20251014_113353
- Deployments accepting unauthenticated HTTP requests to the affected redirect endpoint
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-27 - CVE-2025-12140 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-12140
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an eval-style code injection in a redirect handler. The application receives a value through the redirectUrlParameter query parameter and routes it through the redirectToUrl mechanism. Instead of treating the value as an opaque URL string, the handler passes it to a Java expression evaluator. Attacker-controlled input is therefore parsed and executed as code within the server JVM. Because no authentication is required and the attack surface is reachable over the network, exploitation reduces to issuing a single crafted HTTP request.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code [CWE-95]. The redirect logic does not validate, encode, or constrain the parameter before submitting it to an expression engine. Any caller can substitute a Java expression in place of the expected URL value and have it executed with the privileges of the application process.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated remote attacker sends an HTTP request to the redirect endpoint and supplies a Java expression in redirectUrlParameter. The expression is parsed server-side, invoking runtime methods such as Runtime.getRuntime().exec() to spawn arbitrary processes, read files, or stage follow-on payloads. No user interaction is required. Full technical details are available in the CERT Polska CVE-2025-12140 Analysis.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-12140
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests targeting the redirect endpoint with redirectUrlParameter values containing Java syntax such as Runtime, ProcessBuilder, getClass(), forName, or T(java.lang.Runtime)
- Child processes spawned by the Java application server (sh, bash, cmd.exe, powershell.exe, curl, wget) without legitimate parent application context
- Outbound network connections initiated by the JVM to unfamiliar hosts shortly after suspicious redirect requests
- Web server access logs showing non-URL payloads, encoded expressions, or unusually long values in redirectUrlParameter
Detection Strategies
- Inspect application and web server logs for redirectUrlParameter values that are not well-formed URLs
- Correlate inbound requests to the redirect handler with subsequent process creation events on the host
- Apply web application firewall rules that flag Java expression syntax in query string parameters
- Hunt for file writes to web-accessible directories or temporary paths originating from the application user
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward web server and application logs to a centralized SIEM and alert on anomalous parameter values reaching the redirect endpoint
- Monitor JVM process trees for unexpected child processes and flag deviations from a known baseline
- Track outbound DNS and HTTP egress from application servers to identify command-and-control or payload retrieval activity
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-12140
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the affected application to version wu#2016.1.5513#0#20251014_113353 or later
- Restrict network access to the redirect endpoint to trusted sources until patching is complete
- Review web server and application logs for prior exploitation attempts referencing redirectUrlParameter
- Rotate credentials, tokens, and keys stored on the application host if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
The vendor fixed the issue in version wu#2016.1.5513#0#20251014_113353. Apply the update following the procedure in the CERT Polska CVE-2025-12140 Analysis advisory and validate that the redirect handler no longer evaluates parameter values as Java expressions.
Workarounds
- Block or filter HTTP requests containing Java expression syntax in redirectUrlParameter at a reverse proxy or web application firewall
- Disable the redirectToUrl mechanism if it is not required by business workflows
- Run the application under a least-privilege service account to limit the blast radius of successful exploitation
- Apply egress filtering to prevent the application server from initiating arbitrary outbound connections
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.