CVE-2025-3834: ManageEngine ADAudit Plus SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-3834 Overview

CVE-2025-3834 is an authenticated SQL injection vulnerability in Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus, affecting versions 8510 and earlier. The flaw resides in the Organizational Unit (OU) History report functionality, where user-supplied input is incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements against the backing database. The weakness is classified under CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. Successful exploitation can expose Active Directory audit data and allow tampering with stored records.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can extract or modify sensitive Active Directory audit data stored by ADAudit Plus by injecting SQL through the OU History report.

Affected Products

• Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus versions 8510 and prior
• Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus 8.5 (build 8500)
• Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus 8.5 (build 8510)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-14 - CVE-2025-3834 published to NVD
• 2025-06-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-3834

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the OU History report feature of ManageEngine ADAudit Plus. The reporting component constructs SQL queries by concatenating attacker-controlled parameters directly into statement strings. Because the affected parameters are not parameterized or escaped, a low-privileged authenticated user can append or modify SQL clauses processed by the database engine. The product stores Active Directory change tracking data, so exploitation directly threatens the integrity and confidentiality of audit records used for compliance and incident response.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands ([CWE-89]). Input handlers for the OU History report pass request parameters into query builders that perform string concatenation rather than using prepared statements with bound parameters. Any single-quote, semicolon, or SQL keyword supplied by the user becomes part of the executed query.

Attack Vector

The attack requires network access to the ADAudit Plus web interface and valid authenticated credentials with permission to access the OU History report. No user interaction is required. An attacker submits crafted parameter values to the vulnerable report endpoint. The injected SQL executes with the privileges of the ADAudit Plus database account, enabling data extraction through UNION-based or blind techniques and modification of audit tables. The EPSS score of 4.112% places this CVE in the 88th percentile, indicating elevated exploitation likelihood relative to typical CVEs.

No public proof-of-concept has been released. Refer to the ManageEngine CVE-2025-3834 Advisory for vendor-confirmed technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3834

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to ADAudit Plus OU History report endpoints containing SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, '--, WAITFOR DELAY, or ;
• Anomalous database query patterns originating from the ADAudit Plus service account against audit tables
• Authenticated sessions generating large or repeated OU History report queries outside normal reporting windows
• Database error messages or exceptions logged by ADAudit Plus that reference malformed SQL

Detection Strategies

• Inspect ADAudit Plus web access logs for report request parameters containing SQL metacharacters or boolean payloads
• Enable database-side query logging and alert on statements containing UNION, time-delay functions, or stacked queries originating from the application account
• Correlate authentication events with report access to identify low-privileged accounts performing reconnaissance against reporting endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor account access patterns to ADAudit Plus and flag privilege changes or unexpected logins to reporting roles
• Track outbound network connections from the ADAudit Plus host that could indicate data exfiltration following exploitation
• Forward ADAudit Plus application and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and correlation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3834

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade ManageEngine ADAudit Plus to the fixed build released by Zohocorp as documented in the vendor advisory
• Audit accounts authorized to run OU History reports and remove unnecessary access
• Rotate credentials for ADAudit Plus user accounts and the database service account after patching
• Review historical web and database logs for evidence of prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Zohocorp has issued a fixed release addressing CVE-2025-3834. Apply the update referenced in the ManageEngine CVE-2025-3834 Advisory. The advisory provides the corrected build number and upgrade instructions for affected ADAudit Plus deployments.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to the ADAudit Plus web console to trusted administrative subnets until the patch is applied
• Limit OU History report permissions to a minimal set of operators with monitored accounts
• Deploy a web application firewall rule to block SQL metacharacters in parameters submitted to ADAudit Plus reporting endpoints

# Example firewall restriction limiting ADAudit Plus console access
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8081 -s 10.10.5.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8081 -j DROP