CVE-2025-15107: Actionsky Sqle RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-15107 Overview

A security vulnerability has been identified in Actiontech SQLE up to version 4.2511.0 involving the use of a hard-coded cryptographic key in the JWT Secret Handler component. The vulnerability exists in the file sqle/utils/jwt.go, where the manipulation of the JWTSecretKey argument allows attackers to exploit a hard-coded cryptographic key used for JWT token generation and validation.

This weakness falls under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) and CWE-320 (Key Management Errors), representing a significant cryptographic vulnerability that could allow attackers to forge authentication tokens or decrypt sensitive information if they discover the hard-coded key value.

Critical Impact

Attackers who discover the hard-coded JWT secret key could forge authentication tokens, potentially bypassing authentication mechanisms and gaining unauthorized access to the SQLE application.

Affected Products

• Actionsky SQLE versions up to 4.2511.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-12-27 - CVE-2025-15107 published to NVD
• 2025-12-31 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-15107

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from the use of a hard-coded cryptographic key within the JWT (JSON Web Token) authentication mechanism of Actiontech SQLE. JWT tokens are commonly used for session management and authentication in web applications. When a secret key is hard-coded directly into the source code rather than being dynamically generated or securely configured, any attacker who gains access to the source code or binary can extract this key.

The affected component is located in sqle/utils/jwt.go within the JWT Secret Handler. The JWTSecretKey argument contains a static, unchangeable cryptographic value that is used to sign and verify JWT tokens across all deployments of the affected versions.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is a fundamental cryptographic design flaw where developers embedded a static secret key directly in the application source code. This violates security best practices which mandate that cryptographic keys should be:

1. Uniquely generated for each deployment
2. Stored securely outside of application code
3. Rotatable without requiring code changes
4. Protected from unauthorized access

Hard-coded keys in source code repositories become particularly dangerous as they may be exposed through public repositories, decompiled binaries, or code leaks.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation. While the attack complexity is rated as high due to the need to first discover the hard-coded key value, once obtained, an attacker could:

1. Examine the publicly available source code or obtain a copy of the application
2. Locate the hard-coded JWTSecretKey in sqle/utils/jwt.go
3. Use the extracted key to forge valid JWT tokens
4. Present forged tokens to the SQLE application to authenticate as any user

The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed through a GitHub Issue #3186, and the project maintainers have acknowledged the flaw and are planning to address it in an upcoming release as tracked in GitHub Milestone #53.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15107

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected JWT tokens appearing in authentication logs that were not generated by legitimate user sessions
• Authentication events from unusual source IP addresses using valid tokens
• Multiple user accounts accessed from the same session or source within a short timeframe
• JWT tokens with anomalous creation timestamps or payload values

Detection Strategies

• Implement JWT token validation that includes additional claims verification beyond signature validation
• Monitor authentication logs for tokens that may have been generated outside normal application flows
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect abnormal authentication patterns
• Perform code audits to identify any additional hard-coded credentials in the codebase

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all authentication events including JWT token validation results
• Set up alerts for failed authentication attempts followed by successful ones from the same source
• Monitor for concurrent sessions from geographically disparate locations
• Track API access patterns for anomalies that could indicate unauthorized token usage

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15107

Immediate Actions Required

• Assess exposure by reviewing deployment configurations and access logs for signs of exploitation
• Implement additional authentication controls such as IP whitelisting or multi-factor authentication
• Consider deploying an additional authentication layer in front of SQLE until a patch is available
• Monitor the GitHub Milestone #53 for upcoming patch releases
• Review and invalidate existing JWT tokens if compromise is suspected

Patch Information

The Actiontech development team has acknowledged this vulnerability and is planning to release a fix in an upcoming version. Organizations should monitor the official GitHub repository for patch announcements and apply updates as soon as they become available.

Until an official patch is released, organizations should implement the workarounds listed below and consider the risk of continued operation.

Workarounds

• Configure a reverse proxy or API gateway to add an additional authentication layer before requests reach SQLE
• Implement network segmentation to restrict access to SQLE instances from trusted networks only
• Deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication activity
• If possible, modify the deployed instance to use a unique, securely generated JWT secret key (requires code modification)
• Limit user permissions and implement the principle of least privilege to reduce impact of potential token forgery

# Example: Restrict network access to SQLE using iptables
# Only allow connections from trusted internal network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 10000 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 10000 -j DROP