CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-12155NVD status: Deferred

Looker: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command

CVE-2025-12155 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in a command vulnerability in Looker from Google Cloud, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists versions 24.12.100, 24.18.192, 25.0.69 as the first without the flaw, so updating Looker to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.26% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 70% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Looker to 24.12.100 or 24.18.192 or 25.0.69 or 25.6.57, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Google CloudLookerbefore 24.12.100; before 24.18.192; before 25.0.69; before 25.6.57; before 25.8.39; before 25.10.2224.12.100, 24.18.192, 25.0.69, 25.6.57, 25.8.39, 25.10.22

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Attack requirements
PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
ActiveA user must deliberately do something unusual, such as dismissing a warning.
Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
Integrity (vulnerable system)
HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
Availability (vulnerable system)
HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
Confidentiality (other systems)
NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Integrity (other systems)
NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Availability (other systems)
NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:P/AU:Y/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:Red. Scored by CNA.

Official description

A Command Injection vulnerability, resulting from improper file path sanitization (Directory Traversal) in Looker allows an attacker with Developer permission to execute arbitrary shell commands when a user is deleted on the host system. Looker-hosted and Self-hosted were found to be vulnerable. This issue has already been mitigated for Looker-hosted instances. No user action is required for these. Self-hosted instances must be upgraded as soon as possible. This vulnerability has been patched in all supported versions of Self-hosted. The versions below have all been updated to protect from this vulnerability. You can download these versions at the Looker download page https://download.looker.com/ : * 24.12.100+ * 24.18.192+ * 25.0.69+ * 25.6.57+ * 25.8.39+ * 25.10.22+

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command

The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
  • If possible, ensure that all external commands called from the program are statically created.
  • Run time: Run time policy enforcement may be used in an allowlist fashion to prevent use of any non-sanctioned commands.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command vulnerabilities (CWE-77)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Looker

All Looker vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command vulnerabilities

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