CVE-2025-3836 Overview
CVE-2025-3836 is an authenticated SQL injection vulnerability in Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus, affecting versions 8510 and prior. The flaw resides in the logon events aggregate report, where user-supplied input reaches a backend SQL query without proper sanitization. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements over the network, leading to disclosure of audit data, modification of records, and limited availability impact on the database backend. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-89 and was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on May 22, 2025.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the ADAudit Plus database, exposing sensitive Active Directory audit data including logon events, user activity, and configuration details.
Affected Products
- Zohocorp ManageEngine ADAudit Plus versions up to and including build 8510
- ManageEngine ADAudit Plus 8.5 (base release)
- ManageEngine ADAudit Plus build 8500
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-22 - CVE-2025-3836 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-3836
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the logon events aggregate report feature of ManageEngine ADAudit Plus. This component constructs SQL queries dynamically using parameters supplied through authenticated HTTP requests. Because user input is concatenated into the query string rather than passed through parameterized statements, an attacker can break out of the intended query context and append arbitrary SQL clauses.
Exploitation requires valid credentials with low privileges, but ADAudit Plus deployments typically grant report-viewing access to a wide set of operators. The EPSS probability of approximately 4.59% places this issue in the 90th percentile of likelihood for exploitation, reflecting both ease of exploitation and the product's exposure in enterprise Active Directory environments.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. Input fields tied to the logon events aggregate report are passed directly into SQL queries without prepared statements or strict allow-list validation. The vendor advisory confirms the fix involves additional input validation in the affected report module. Refer to the ManageEngine CVE-2025-3836 Advisory for vendor-confirmed details.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticated to the ADAudit Plus web console issues a crafted request to the logon events aggregate report endpoint. By manipulating report filter or grouping parameters with SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION SELECT, or boolean conditions, the attacker forces the backend to execute injected statements. Successful exploitation can return data from arbitrary tables, modify rows depending on the database account privileges, and trigger errors that disrupt report generation.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3836
Indicators of Compromise
- Anomalous HTTP requests to ADAudit Plus logon events aggregate report endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP(.
- Database error messages or stack traces logged by ADAudit Plus during report generation requests.
- Unusual report executions from low-privilege accounts that retrieve unexpectedly large result sets.
- Outbound database connections or queries originating from the ADAudit Plus service account that do not match normal reporting patterns.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect ADAudit Plus access logs for report URLs containing encoded SQL keywords or unusual parameter lengths.
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules tuned to ADAudit Plus URL paths to flag SQL injection signatures.
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent report queries to identify accounts performing atypical report access.
- Monitor the underlying PostgreSQL or MSSQL audit logs for queries that reference system catalogs such as pg_catalog or information_schema.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward ADAudit Plus application logs and database query logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation and alerting.
- Establish a baseline for normal report execution volume per user and alert on deviations.
- Track changes to ADAudit Plus build numbers across all instances to confirm patch deployment.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3836
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade ManageEngine ADAudit Plus to build 8511 or later as published in the vendor advisory.
- Restrict console access to ADAudit Plus to trusted administrative networks only, removing exposure to general user VLANs or the internet.
- Audit ADAudit Plus user accounts and remove unnecessary low-privilege accounts that have report access.
- Rotate credentials for any account that interacts with ADAudit Plus if compromise is suspected.
Patch Information
Zohocorp has released a fixed build that addresses the SQL injection in the logon events aggregate report. Customers should apply the update referenced in the ManageEngine CVE-2025-3836 Advisory. Verify the post-upgrade build number in the console and confirm that report generation still functions for legitimate users.
Workarounds
- Temporarily disable or restrict access to the logon events aggregate report until the patch is applied.
- Place ADAudit Plus behind a reverse proxy or WAF that blocks requests containing SQL injection patterns targeting report endpoints.
- Limit database account privileges used by ADAudit Plus to the minimum required, reducing the impact of a successful injection.
# Verify the installed ADAudit Plus build after patching
# Linux installation
cat /opt/ManageEngine/ADAudit\ Plus/conf/product.conf | grep -i build
# Windows installation (PowerShell)
Get-Content "C:\ManageEngine\ADAudit Plus\conf\product.conf" | Select-String "build"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
