Bitdefender GravityZone Vulnerability Lets Hackers Run Arbitrary Commands via PHP

A critical insecure PHP deserialization vulnerability (CVE-2025-2244) has been resolved in Bitdefender GravityZone Console, the centralized security management platform enterprises use globally.

The flaw, rated 9.5 on the CVSS v4 scale, allowed unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.

Bitdefender released an automatic update (version 6.41.2-1) to address this risk.

Vulnerability Overview

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the sendMailFromRemoteSource method within the Emails.php component.

Attackers could exploit this by sending crafted serialized payloads to trigger PHP object injection, enabling remote code execution (RCE) and full system compromise.

Security researcher Nicolas Verdier (@n1nj4sec) discovered and reported the issue.

Key Details

• CVE ID: CVE-2025-2244
• CVSS v4 Score: 9.5 (Critical)
• Affected Versions: All GravityZone Console instances before 6.41.2-1
• Attack Vector: Remote, network-based exploitation without authentication

Technical Breakdown

The vulnerability arises from the unsafe use of PHP’s unserialize() function on untrusted user input.

The affected code path lacks validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious objects into the application’s runtime environment.

Example of Risky Code

$data = unserialize($_POST['payload']); // No validation of input

In GravityZone Console, this pattern enabled attackers to chain gadget exploits—predefined classes or methods in the application—to achieve RCE.

Successful exploitation could lead to:

• Arbitrary file writes (e.g., web shells)
• Execution of system commands with elevated privileges
• Lateral movement within enterprise networks

Impact and Exploit Potential

The flaw’s critical severity stems from its combination of low attack complexity and high-impact outcomes:

Exploitation Scenarios

• Initial Access: Attackers could deploy ransomware or espionage tools.
• Persistence: Malicious actors might install backdoors for long-term access.
• Data Exfiltration: Sensitive security configurations and logs could be stolen.

Security firm Vulnrichment notes that the vulnerability “allows complete host system takeover,” making it a prime target for advanced threat actors.

Mitigation and Response

Bitdefender has automatically updated (version 6.41.2-1) to all GravityZone Console instances.

Administrators should:

1. Confirm their console version under Settings > About.
2. If using versions below 6.41.2-1, manually trigger an update via the management interface.
3. Audit logs for unusual activity, particularly POST requests to email-handling endpoints.

For organizations using custom deployment configurations, Bitdefender recommends enforcing network segmentation and restricting console access to trusted IPs.

Industry Implications

This incident highlights persistent risks in legacy PHP architectures, particularly deserialization flaws that remain prevalent despite modern secure-coding guidelines.

The vulnerability’s discovery follows a broader trend of attacks targeting security management tools to bypass enterprise defenses.

Proactive Measures for Developers

• Replace unserialize() with JSON-based data parsing where possible.
• Implement strict input validation using allowlists.
• Use PHP’s __wakeup() and __destruct() methods cautiously.

Bitdefender’s swift patch deployment underscores the importance of automated update mechanisms in critical security infrastructure.

Organizations are advised to prioritize vulnerability management programs that address such high-severity flaws within 24–48 hours of disclosure.

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