CVE-2025-62354: Cursor Command Injection RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-62354 Overview

CVE-2025-62354 is a critical command injection vulnerability affecting Cursor, an AI-powered code editor. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands (CWE-78), allowing an unauthorized attacker to execute commands outside of those specified in the allowlist. This can result in arbitrary code execution on the affected system.

Critical Impact

Attackers can bypass command restrictions to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of Cursor, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• Cursor AI Code Editor (versions prior to security patch)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-11-26 - CVE-2025-62354 published to NVD
• 2025-12-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-62354

Vulnerability Analysis

This command injection vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input before it is passed to OS command execution functions. Cursor implements an allowlist mechanism intended to restrict which commands can be executed, however, the implementation fails to properly neutralize special characters and command separators that attackers can leverage to break out of the intended command context.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that remote attackers can exploit it without requiring any privileges or user interaction. Once exploited, an attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Cursor application, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the target environment.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of special characters before constructing OS commands. The allowlist mechanism can be circumvented through the injection of command separators, shell metacharacters, or escape sequences that allow attackers to append or chain additional commands beyond the intended scope.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can remotely trigger the vulnerability without local access to the target system. The exploitation requires no authentication and no user interaction, making it highly accessible to attackers. By crafting malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, backticks, or other command separators, an attacker can inject and execute arbitrary OS commands.

The vulnerability exploits the gap between the allowlist validation and actual command execution, where special elements are not properly neutralized. This allows an attacker to construct input that passes allowlist checks but results in unintended command execution when processed by the underlying shell.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62354

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected child processes spawned by the Cursor application
• Unusual network connections originating from Cursor processes
• Anomalous command-line arguments or shell invocations in process monitoring logs
• Suspicious file system modifications in user or system directories following Cursor execution

Detection Strategies

• Monitor process creation events for shell commands spawned as child processes of Cursor
• Implement behavioral analysis to detect command execution patterns inconsistent with normal Cursor operation
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify command injection attack patterns
• Review application logs for malformed or suspicious input containing shell metacharacters

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for Cursor application activities and command execution
• Implement network monitoring to detect unusual outbound connections from development environments
• Configure SIEM rules to alert on command injection indicators such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks in application input
• Establish baseline behavior for Cursor processes to facilitate anomaly detection

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62354

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the HiddenLayer Security Advisory for detailed vulnerability information and remediation guidance
• Update Cursor to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability
• Restrict network access to systems running vulnerable versions of Cursor until patched
• Monitor affected systems for signs of exploitation

Patch Information

Refer to the HiddenLayer Security Advisory for the latest information on available patches and security updates from the vendor. Organizations should prioritize applying updates as soon as they become available given the critical severity of this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of systems running Cursor
• Deploy application-level firewalls or input validation proxies to filter malicious input
• Restrict Cursor's ability to execute shell commands through operating system-level controls where feasible
• Consider temporarily disabling features that require command execution until patches are applied

# Example: Restrict shell access for the Cursor application using AppArmor (Linux)
# Add to /etc/apparmor.d/cursor profile
deny /bin/sh x,
deny /bin/bash x,
deny /usr/bin/sh x,
deny /usr/bin/bash x,