CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-53187NVD status: Deferred

ASPECT: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-53187 is a critical-severity authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability in ASPECT from ABB, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version <3.08.04-s01 as the first without the flaw, so updating ASPECT to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.71% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 54% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update ASPECT to <3.08.04-s01 or a later version.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
ABBASPECTbefore <3.08.04-s01<3.08.04-s01

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.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (ch.abb.com).

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.09.3CriticalCNA (ch.abb.com)
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalCNA (ch.abb.com)

Official description

Due to an issue in configuration, code that was intended for debugging purposes was included in the market release of the ASPECT FW allowing an attacker to bypass authentication. This vulnerability may allow an attacker to change the system time, access files, and make function calls without prior authentication. This issue affects all versions of ASPECT prior to 3.08.04-s01

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

The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Funnel all access through a single choke point to simplify how users can access a resource. For every access, perform a check to determine if the user has permissions to access the resource.

More Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities (CWE-288)

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

Recent Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerabilities

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