CVE-2025-24505 Overview
CVE-2025-24505 is a remote command execution vulnerability affecting a Privileged Access Management (PAM) system disclosed through a Broadcom Security Advisory. A high-privileged authenticated PAM user can upload a specially crafted upgrade file to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. The flaw is classified under CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type.
The vulnerability requires adjacent network access and high privileges, but successful exploitation compromises the underlying host that governs privileged credentials across the enterprise.
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with administrative PAM privileges can gain command execution on the appliance and pivot to secrets, session recordings, and downstream managed systems.
Affected Products
- Broadcom Privileged Access Management (PAM)
- Refer to the Broadcom Security Advisory for specific affected versions
- Deployments exposing the PAM management interface to adjacent network segments
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-30 - CVE-2025-24505 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24505
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the upgrade file handling functionality of the PAM system. The application accepts an upgrade archive from an authenticated administrative user but fails to sufficiently validate the file's contents, integrity, or type before processing.
Because upgrade routines typically execute with elevated privileges on the appliance operating system, unsafe processing of attacker-controlled contents leads directly to command execution. The vulnerability is authenticated, requiring high-privileged PAM credentials, which limits opportunistic exploitation but raises the impact when insider or session-hijacking scenarios apply.
Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the appliance and the systems it manages. PAM platforms broker access to production infrastructure, so compromise can cascade to vaulted credentials and privileged sessions.
Root Cause
The root cause is unrestricted upload of a file with a dangerous type ([CWE-434]). The upgrade handler does not adequately verify signatures, structure, or executable content in submitted upgrade packages, allowing an authenticated administrator to plant executable payloads inside a crafted archive.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is adjacent network, meaning an attacker must reach the PAM administrative interface from an adjoining network segment. The attacker authenticates as a high-privileged PAM user and submits a malicious upgrade file through the standard upgrade workflow. The application then processes the archive and triggers execution of attacker-supplied commands during upgrade parsing or installation.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. See the Broadcom Security Advisory for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24505
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected upgrade file uploads in PAM administrative audit logs, particularly outside of scheduled maintenance windows
- New or modified files in PAM upgrade staging directories that do not match vendor-signed release artifacts
- Unusual child processes spawned by the PAM upgrade or installer service accounts
- Outbound network connections from the PAM appliance to unfamiliar hosts following an upgrade action
Detection Strategies
- Alert on any invocation of the upgrade endpoint by administrator accounts, correlated with the source IP and session origin
- Monitor process ancestry on the PAM host for shell interpreters or scripting engines launched from upgrade-related binaries
- Compare uploaded upgrade file hashes against Broadcom-published release checksums and block mismatches
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward PAM audit and system logs to a centralized SIEM and retain administrative actions for forensic review
- Enable file integrity monitoring on upgrade staging directories and executable paths on the PAM appliance
- Track administrative session activity from adjacent network segments and flag privileged sessions that immediately trigger upgrade operations
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24505
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the vendor patch referenced in the Broadcom Security Advisory as soon as it is validated in a staging environment
- Restrict PAM administrative interface access to a dedicated management network and enforce jump-host access controls
- Review and reduce the population of high-privileged PAM accounts, and rotate their credentials
- Audit recent upgrade activity for unauthorized uploads or unexpected administrator sessions
Patch Information
Broadcom has published remediation guidance in the Broadcom Security Advisory. Administrators should consult the advisory for the fixed version applicable to their PAM deployment and follow the documented upgrade path.
Workarounds
- Enforce multi-factor authentication for all PAM administrative accounts to reduce credential abuse risk
- Limit the upgrade capability to a break-glass account used only during scheduled maintenance windows
- Place the PAM management interface behind network access controls that permit only known administrator workstations
- Enable detailed audit logging on upgrade operations and forward events to an external log store outside the appliance
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
