CVE-2025-15336: Tanium Performance Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-15336 Overview

CVE-2025-15336 is an incorrect default permissions vulnerability discovered in Tanium Performance. This security flaw stems from improper permission configurations (CWE-276) that could allow authenticated attackers with high privileges to potentially access or modify sensitive data within the affected Tanium Performance module.

The vulnerability enables network-based exploitation without user interaction, potentially leading to unauthorized access to confidential information and integrity compromise of the affected system.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers with elevated privileges can exploit misconfigured default permissions to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and potentially modify system configurations in Tanium Performance deployments.

Affected Products

• Tanium Performance (specific versions not disclosed)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-05 - CVE-2025-15336 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-15336

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), which occurs when software sets insecure permissions during installation or resource creation. In the context of Tanium Performance, the default permission configuration fails to properly restrict access to sensitive resources.

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network and requires high privileges to execute, though no user interaction is necessary. Successful exploitation can result in significant confidentiality and integrity impacts to the affected system, though availability is not impacted.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-15336 lies in incorrect default permissions being applied to resources within the Tanium Performance module. When software is installed or initialized with overly permissive default settings, it creates opportunities for attackers who have already gained elevated access to the system to further expand their capabilities or access data they should not be authorized to view or modify.

This type of vulnerability typically occurs when:

• File system permissions are set too broadly during installation
• Configuration files contain sensitive data with insufficient access controls
• Service accounts or resources are created with excessive default privileges

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit it remotely without physical access to the target system. However, the attacker must possess high privileges on the system to successfully exploit this vulnerability.

The exploitation flow involves an authenticated user with elevated privileges leveraging the misconfigured permissions to access or modify resources beyond their intended authorization scope. Since no user interaction is required, the attack can be executed programmatically once the attacker has established the required access level.

For detailed technical information, refer to the Tanium Security Advisory TAN-2025-029.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15336

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected permission changes on Tanium Performance configuration files or directories
• Unusual access patterns from high-privilege accounts to sensitive Tanium Performance resources
• Audit log entries showing access to restricted data by accounts that shouldn't have such access

Detection Strategies

• Enable and monitor Tanium Performance audit logs for unauthorized access attempts
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical Tanium Performance directories and configuration files
• Review access control lists and permission configurations against baseline security settings
• Monitor for privilege escalation activities within the Tanium environment

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerting for any permission modifications on Tanium Performance components
• Establish baseline permission profiles and alert on deviations
• Implement real-time monitoring of privileged account activities within Tanium deployments
• Regularly audit user permissions and access rights within the Tanium ecosystem

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15336

Immediate Actions Required

• Review and apply the security patch referenced in Tanium Security Advisory TAN-2025-029
• Audit current permission configurations on all Tanium Performance installations
• Implement principle of least privilege for all accounts accessing Tanium Performance
• Review high-privilege account access and remove unnecessary elevated permissions

Patch Information

Tanium has addressed this vulnerability as documented in their Security Advisory TAN-2025-029. Organizations should consult the advisory for specific patch information, affected version details, and upgrade guidance.

Contact Tanium support or refer to the official security advisory for the latest patched version and deployment instructions.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to Tanium Performance to trusted management networks only
• Implement additional access controls at the network layer to limit who can reach the affected components
• Regularly review and tighten permissions on Tanium Performance resources as an interim measure
• Enable comprehensive logging and monitoring until the patch can be applied

# Example: Audit current permissions on Tanium Performance directories
# Review and restrict as needed based on your security policy
# Consult Tanium documentation for specific paths in your deployment

# Check for overly permissive configurations
find /path/to/tanium/performance -type f -perm /o+w -ls
find /path/to/tanium/performance -type d -perm /o+w -ls

# Review ownership and group settings
ls -la /path/to/tanium/performance/