CVE-2025-46412: Vertiv Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-46412 Overview

CVE-2025-46412 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability affecting Vertiv products. The affected products do not properly protect webserver functions, which could allow an attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to protected resources.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated network attackers to bypass authentication controls on affected Vertiv webserver functions, potentially leading to full system compromise with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

• Vertiv products with vulnerable webserver implementations (refer to CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-140-10 for specific affected product versions)
• Industrial control system components utilizing affected Vertiv web interfaces

Discovery Timeline

• May 21, 2025 - CVE-2025-46412 published to NVD
• May 21, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46412

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel). The flaw exists within the webserver implementation of affected Vertiv products, where certain functions lack proper authentication protection. An attacker can exploit this weakness to circumvent normal authentication procedures and access restricted functionality without valid credentials.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can remotely target exposed Vertiv devices without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the affected device, allowing attackers to view sensitive configuration data, modify system settings, or disrupt operations.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-46412 lies in improper access control implementation within the webserver component. Specific webserver functions are not adequately protected by authentication checks, creating an alternate path that attackers can use to bypass the intended security controls. This represents a fundamental design or implementation flaw where security validation is not consistently applied across all sensitive endpoints.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based. An attacker can exploit this flaw by:

1. Identifying an exposed Vertiv device webserver on the network
2. Crafting requests that target improperly protected webserver functions
3. Bypassing the authentication mechanism to gain unauthorized access
4. Leveraging this access to compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system

The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for internet-exposed or network-accessible Vertiv devices.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46412

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected or unauthorized configuration changes on Vertiv devices
• Authentication logs showing access to protected functions without corresponding successful authentication events
• Unusual network traffic patterns to Vertiv webserver interfaces, particularly to non-standard endpoints
• Anomalous administrative actions performed without valid session establishment

Detection Strategies

• Monitor webserver access logs for requests to protected endpoints that lack valid authentication headers or session tokens
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify authentication bypass attempts targeting Vertiv devices
• Conduct regular audits of device configurations to detect unauthorized modifications
• Deploy anomaly detection for unusual access patterns to Vertiv management interfaces

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on all Vertiv webserver interfaces
• Configure alerts for failed authentication attempts followed by successful function access
• Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect lateral movement from compromised ICS devices
• Establish baseline behavioral profiles for Vertiv device communications and alert on deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46412

Immediate Actions Required

• Consult the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-140-10 for specific remediation guidance
• Restrict network access to affected Vertiv webserver interfaces using firewall rules
• Implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices from untrusted networks
• Monitor affected systems for signs of compromise while awaiting patches
• Review and audit access logs on affected devices for evidence of exploitation

Patch Information

Organizations should consult the Vertiv Security Support Center for official patch availability and firmware updates. Apply vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available. Refer to the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-140-10 for detailed mitigation instructions and patch information specific to affected product versions.

Workarounds

• Disable remote webserver access if not operationally required
• Implement VPN or other secure remote access solutions to restrict direct network exposure
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) or reverse proxies with authentication enforcement in front of affected devices
• Apply strict IP allowlisting to limit access to management interfaces to authorized administrators only
• Enable multi-factor authentication where supported for administrative access