CVE-2025-53880 Overview
CVE-2025-53880 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-35] affecting the tftpsync/add and tftpsync/delete scripts. An attacker on an adjacent network can manipulate path parameters to write or delete arbitrary files on the target filesystem. The scripts execute with the privileges of the unprivileged wwwrun user. The endpoint is unauthenticated, but access is restricted to a configured list of allowed IP addresses. The flaw was tracked through SUSE Bugzilla CVE-2025-53880.
Critical Impact
An adjacent-network attacker can write or delete files as wwwrun, enabling web content tampering, denial of service, or chaining toward further compromise.
Affected Products
- SUSE distributions shipping the affected tftpsync scripts
- Systems exposing tftpsync/add and tftpsync/delete endpoints
- Hosts running the affected scripts under the wwwrun service account
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-10-30 - CVE-2025-53880 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-53880
Vulnerability Analysis
The tftpsync/add and tftpsync/delete scripts accept file path parameters from HTTP requests without enforcing canonicalization or directory restrictions. An attacker supplies traversal sequences such as ../ to escape the intended TFTP synchronization directory. The scripts then perform file write or delete operations on attacker-chosen filesystem locations. All operations execute under the wwwrun web service account, limiting impact to files writable by that user. The unauthenticated nature of the endpoint means any host on the allow-listed adjacent network can invoke these operations directly.
Root Cause
The scripts fail to validate or sanitize user-supplied path inputs before passing them to file system operations. This is a classic path traversal weakness classified under CWE-35: Path Traversal: '.../...//'. The IP allow list is the only access control gate, providing no defense against attackers operating within trusted network segments.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network adjacency to the target host, with the attacker's source address present in the allow list. The attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the tftpsync/add or tftpsync/delete endpoint containing relative path traversal sequences in the filename parameter. No authentication or user interaction is required. Successful exploitation grants arbitrary file write or deletion within the bounds of wwwrun permissions, which typically includes web server content, TFTP boot images, and configuration files served by the host.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53880
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to tftpsync/add or tftpsync/delete containing ../, ..\, URL-encoded %2e%2e%2f, or other traversal sequences in path parameters
- Unexpected files created or removed in directories writable by the wwwrun user
- Web server access logs showing requests to tftpsync endpoints from unusual internal source addresses
- Modifications to TFTP-served boot images, PXE configuration files, or web content with wwwrun ownership
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server and reverse proxy logs for requests to tftpsync/add and tftpsync/delete containing path traversal patterns
- Monitor filesystem changes in directories owned or writable by wwwrun using auditd or file integrity monitoring
- Correlate process activity from the web service account against expected file operations
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on the web server fronting tftpsync scripts and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform
- Alert on any HTTP request to tftpsync endpoints from source IPs not on a vetted infrastructure inventory
- Track file creation and deletion events under wwwrun and baseline expected paths to surface anomalies
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53880
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply vendor updates referenced in the SUSE Bugzilla entry for CVE-2025-53880 as soon as they are available
- Restrict the tftpsync IP allow list to the minimum set of management hosts required for synchronization
- Audit the filesystem for unauthorized file changes under paths writable by wwwrun
Patch Information
Refer to the SUSE Bugzilla CVE-2025-53880 advisory for patch availability and affected package versions. Apply the fixed packages through your standard SUSE update channel once published.
Workarounds
- Block external and untrusted network access to the tftpsync/add and tftpsync/delete endpoints at the web server or firewall layer
- Tighten the existing IP allow list to permit only specific, authenticated administration hosts
- Reduce the filesystem privileges of wwwrun to limit the blast radius of any successful traversal write
- Disable the tftpsync endpoints entirely on hosts that do not require remote synchronization
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
