CVE-2025-53475: Advantech iView SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-53475 Overview

CVE-2025-53475 is a SQL injection vulnerability in Advantech iView, a network management platform used in industrial control system (ICS) environments. The flaw resides in the NetworkServlet.getNextTrapPage() function, which fails to sanitize specific parameters before incorporating them into SQL queries. An authenticated attacker with user-level privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements and pivot to remote code execution under the nt authority\local service account. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-89 and is documented in CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-191-08.

Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker can chain SQL injection into remote code execution as nt authority\local service, compromising ICS management infrastructure.

Affected Products

Advantech iView (network management software)
Deployments exposing the NetworkServlet endpoint
ICS environments using vulnerable iView firmware versions referenced in Advantech Firmware Update Details

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-11 - CVE-2025-53475 published to NVD
2025-07-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-53475

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the NetworkServlet.getNextTrapPage() method within Advantech iView. This servlet processes SNMP trap pagination requests and accepts attacker-controllable parameters that flow directly into a backend SQL query. Because input is not parameterized or sanitized, an authenticated user can break out of the intended query context and append arbitrary SQL commands.

The servlet executes within the iView application service running as nt authority\local service. By abusing SQL Server features such as xp_cmdshell or by writing files through SQL primitives, an attacker can escalate from database access to operating system command execution. The exposure is reachable over the network and only requires low-privilege authenticated access, increasing the practical attack surface in environments where iView credentials are widely distributed.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input sanitization in the parameters passed to getNextTrapPage(). The function concatenates user-supplied values into a SQL statement instead of binding them as parameters, which is the classic pattern described by CWE-89: SQL Injection.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker first authenticates to the iView web interface with any valid user account, then issues a crafted request to the vulnerable servlet. Malicious payloads embedded in the pagination parameters are concatenated into the SQL query, allowing data exfiltration, modification, or invocation of stored procedures that execute operating system commands.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this vulnerability. Refer to the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-191-08 for vendor-confirmed technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53475

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected HTTP requests to the iView NetworkServlet endpoint containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, or ;.
Database log entries showing execution of xp_cmdshell, sp_OACreate, or other command-execution stored procedures from the iView service account.
Child processes spawned by the iView Java or web service process under the nt authority\local service identity.
Outbound network connections initiated from the iView host to unfamiliar external IP addresses following authenticated sessions.

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server and application logs for requests to getNextTrapPage containing suspicious query parameters or encoded SQL syntax.
Enable SQL Server auditing to flag execution of command-execution stored procedures originating from the iView application user.
Correlate authentication events with subsequent administrative-level database queries to detect privilege abuse from low-privileged iView users.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward iView application, web server, and database logs to a centralized SIEM for cross-source correlation.
Alert on process-creation events from the iView service account spawning cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or scripting interpreters.
Monitor for outbound connections from the iView host that deviate from baseline management traffic patterns.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53475

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the firmware update referenced in Advantech Firmware Update Details to all iView instances.
Restrict network access to the iView management interface using firewall rules and network segmentation aligned with ICS best practices.
Audit iView user accounts and remove unused or shared credentials, since exploitation requires authenticated access.
Rotate credentials for any account that may have authenticated to a vulnerable iView instance.

Patch Information

Advantech has released a fixed firmware version for iView. Administrators should download and install the updated build from the Advantech support portal and verify the deployed version against the advisory. CISA tracks the remediation guidance in ICSA-25-191-08.

Workarounds

Place iView behind a VPN or jump host so that the management interface is not exposed to general corporate or internet networks.
Disable xp_cmdshell and other command-execution stored procedures on the backend SQL Server instance used by iView.
Run the iView service with the least privileges required, reducing the impact of code execution under nt authority\local service.

bash

# Disable xp_cmdshell on the SQL Server backing iView
sqlcmd -S <iview-db-host> -Q "EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1; RECONFIGURE; EXEC sp_configure 'xp_cmdshell', 0; RECONFIGURE;"