CVE Exploit Alert: CVE-2025-2749 | HIGH | CVSS 7.2 | Kentico Kentico Xperience

HIGH

Alert Date: 2026-05-02

Severity Overview

Summary

An authenticated remote code execution in Kentico Xperience allows authenticated users Staging Sync Server to upload arbitrary data to path relative locations. This results in path traversal and arbitrary file upload, including content that can be executed server side leading to remote code execution.This issue affects Kentico Xperience through 13.0.178.

What the Attack Looks Like

How it works: An attacker sends a request containing directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../) that force the application to access files outside its intended directory, potentially exposing credentials, configuration files, or enabling arbitrary file write.

If successfully exploited: Full confidentiality and integrity impact means an attacker can both read and modify sensitive data — useful for credential harvesting, data theft, or manipulating application state. High availability impact means the vulnerability can also cause a denial of service, which may be used for disruption or as a diversion during a broader attack.

Analyst Takeaway

The attack is launched over the network (remotely exploitable without physical access) and high-privileged (administrative) credentials are required — the attacker must already control an admin account. This vulnerability is already in CISA KEV, which means exploitation has been confirmed in the wild — treat this as active risk, not theoretical exposure. In parallel with patching, defenders should review external exposure, hunt for signs of exploitation, and validate whether compensating controls are in place for vulnerable assets.

Detection Guidance

• CWE-22 — Path Traversal
  • Web server access logs: Search request URIs and parameters for traversal sequences: ../, ..%2F, ..%5C, %2e%2e%2f, %252e%252e (double-encoded), and Windows-style ..\. A WAF or web application log with URI decoding enabled will surface these most reliably.
  • Sensitive file access patterns: Look for requests that reference known sensitive paths: /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, web.config, .env, .git/config, wp-config.php, or Windows SAM/SYSTEM hives.
  • File system monitoring: If the application process accesses files outside its designated working directory — especially system files or credential stores — flag those access events regardless of whether the request itself was logged.
  • Response analysis: A successful traversal often returns HTTP 200 with unexpected content type or size. Watch for 200 responses to unusual paths that would normally return 404.

Recommended Actions

Immediate (0–24 Hours)

• Inventory: Identify all systems running Kentico Kentico Xperience. Include production, staging, dev, and cloud environments — untracked instances are the most likely to remain unpatched.
• Validate internet-facing exposure: Determine which of the affected systems are reachable from the public internet. Prioritize these for immediate remediation or compensating controls.

Remediation

• Apply the vendor patch: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
• CISA directive deadline: 2026-05-04 — this is the mandatory deadline for US federal civilian agencies under BOD 22-01. All organizations should treat this date as a strong target regardless of federal mandate.
• Verify remediation: After patching, confirm the correct version is installed on all affected hosts. Run a vulnerability scan or use your asset management tooling to verify — do not rely solely on change tickets.

Detection Coverage

• Threat intelligence feeds: Monitor your TI feeds and vendor advisory channels for published indicators of compromise (IOCs), proof-of-concept exploit releases, or active campaign reporting associated with this CVE — these should trigger an immediate hunt even if no internal alerts have fired.

Vulnerability Details

Additional Notes

https://devnet.kentico.com/download/hotfixes ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-2749