CVE-2025-5191: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-x9r8-77rv-89rp
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CWE-428
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-5191 is a HIGH security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-428: Unquoted Search Path or Element) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. this can cause the product to access resources in a parent path.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2025-5191 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-5191
GHSA Identifier GHSA-x9r8-77rv-89rp
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-428: Unquoted Search Path or Element
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2025-5191

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2025-5191, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-428: Unquoted Search Path or Element, where the product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. this can cause the product to access resources in a parent path. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

An Unquoted Search Path vulnerability has been identified in the utility for Moxa’s industrial computers (Windows). Due to the unquoted path configuration in the SerialInterfaceService.exe utility, a local attacker with limited privileges could place a malicious executable in a higher-priority directory within the search path. When the Serial Interface service starts, the malicious executable could be run with SYSTEM privileges. Successful exploitation could allow privilege escalation or enable an attacker to maintain persistence on the affected system. While successful exploitation can severely impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device itself, there is no loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability within any subsequent systems.

References

NVD — CVE-2025-5191 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-5191
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.moxa.com/en/support/product-support/security-advisory/mpsa-256421-cve-2025-5191-unquoted-search-path-vulnerability-in-the-utility-for-industrial-computers-(windows)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-5191?
CVE-2025-5191 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-428: Unquoted Search Path or Element.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2025-5191?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-5191?
CVE-2025-5191 is classified under CWE-428: Unquoted Search Path or Element (The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2025-5191?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-x9r8-77rv-89rp",
  "modified" : "2025-08-25T09:32:02Z",
  "published" : "2025-08-25T09:32:02Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-5191" ],
  "details" : "An Unquoted Search Path vulnerability has been identified in the utility for Moxa’s industrial computers (Windows). Due to the unquoted path configuration in the SerialInterfaceService.exe utility, a local attacker with limited privileges could place a malicious executable in a higher-priority directory within the search path. When the Serial Interface service starts, the malicious executable could be run with SYSTEM privileges. Successful exploitation could allow privilege escalation or enable an attacker to maintain persistence on the affected system. While successful exploitation can severely impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device itself, there is no loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability within any subsequent systems.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/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:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-5191"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.moxa.com/en/support/product-support/security-advisory/mpsa-256421-cve-2025-5191-unquoted-search-path-vulnerability-in-the-utility-for-industrial-computers-(windows)"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-428" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-08-25T08:15:30Z"
  }
}