CVE-2025-40888: Nozomi Networks CMC SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-40888 Overview

CVE-2025-40888 is a SQL Injection vulnerability [CWE-89] affecting the command-line interface (CLI) functionality of Nozomi Networks CMC and Guardian products. The flaw stems from improper validation of an input parameter passed to the CLI. An authenticated user with limited privileges can execute arbitrary SELECT SQL statements against the underlying database management system (DBMS) used by the web application. Successful exploitation exposes unauthorized data from the DBMS, impacting confidentiality of records that the user should not be able to read.

Critical Impact
An authenticated low-privileged operator can read arbitrary data from the DBMS backing the Nozomi web application through crafted CLI input, bypassing application-level access controls.

Affected Products

Nozomi Networks CMC (Central Management Console)
Nozomi Networks Guardian
CLI functionality exposed by the affected web application component

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-07 - CVE-2025-40888 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-40888

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the CLI functionality exposed by Nozomi CMC and Guardian. A parameter accepted by the CLI is passed to a backend SQL query without adequate sanitization or parameterization. An authenticated user with limited privileges can inject SQL syntax into that parameter to alter the intended query. Because the injection point is limited to SELECT execution, the attacker cannot directly modify or delete data through this flaw. However, arbitrary SELECT execution against the application DBMS lets the attacker enumerate tables, dump records, and retrieve values outside their authorization scope, including operational telemetry, configuration entries, and any credential material stored in reachable tables.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation [CWE-89]. The CLI component concatenates or otherwise incorporates user-supplied input into a SQL statement instead of using parameterized queries or a strict allow-list. Authentication is required, so the attacker must already hold valid credentials, but no elevated role is needed to reach the vulnerable code path.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based against the CLI interface of the CMC or Guardian appliance. An authenticated operator issues a CLI command containing a crafted parameter value. The malicious fragment is embedded into a server-side SQL query and executed by the DBMS. The attacker receives query results either directly in CLI output or through inferred behavior. Full technical parameters have not been publicly disclosed. Refer to the Nozomi Networks Security Advisory NN-2025:10-01 for vendor-provided detail.

// No public proof-of-concept is available for CVE-2025-40888.
// Vulnerability mechanism (conceptual):
//   user_input -> CLI parameter -> concatenated into SQL -> DBMS SELECT execution
// Refer to the Nozomi Networks advisory for validated technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-40888

Indicators of Compromise

CLI command history entries containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION SELECT, --, /*, or stacked keywords in parameter values.
Unexpected DBMS query patterns originating from the CMC or Guardian web application service account, particularly SELECT statements referencing system catalogs or unrelated tables.
Authenticated low-privileged accounts issuing CLI operations outside their normal usage baseline.

Detection Strategies

Enable and review DBMS query logging on the database backing the affected appliance and alert on syntactically anomalous SELECT statements.
Correlate CLI audit logs with backend query logs to identify parameters that expand into unexpected SQL structures.
Baseline expected CLI usage per role and flag deviations, such as operator accounts invoking parameterized commands they have never used before.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward CMC and Guardian audit logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and correlation.
Monitor for repeated CLI command failures followed by successful executions from the same account, indicating injection tuning.
Track credential usage patterns for all authenticated CLI users and alert on off-hours or high-volume query activity.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-40888

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the fixed release identified in the Nozomi Networks Security Advisory NN-2025:10-01 to all CMC and Guardian instances.
Rotate credentials for CLI users and any service accounts whose secrets may have been reachable through the DBMS.
Review authentication logs and CLI command history for suspicious activity by low-privileged accounts prior to patching.

Patch Information

Nozomi Networks has published fixed versions and remediation guidance in advisory NN-2025:10-01. Consult the Nozomi Networks Security Advisory for the exact fixed build numbers for CMC and Guardian and apply the update through the vendor's standard upgrade procedure.

Workarounds

Restrict CLI access to a minimal set of trusted administrators using network access control lists on the management interface.
Enforce least privilege for all CMC and Guardian user accounts and remove unused low-privileged operator accounts.
Place the appliance management interface on an isolated management network reachable only through a jump host with session recording.

bash

# Example: restrict management interface access with a host-level firewall rule
# Replace <mgmt_admin_subnet> with your administrator jump-host subnet
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -s <mgmt_admin_subnet> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j DROP