Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-23120

RCE in Veeam Backup \& Replication 12.0.0.1402 – 12.3.1.1139

Published
20 March 2025
Modified
02 April 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.22 97th percentile
Risk Priority 82 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-23120 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2025-23120 is a remote code execution vulnerability stemming from unsafe deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502) that affects Veeam Backup & Replication. The flaw carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 and permits domain-authenticated attackers to achieve full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability over the network without user interaction.

Domain users with network access can exploit the issue to execute arbitrary code on affected Veeam servers. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to run commands at the privileges of the Veeam service account, enabling lateral movement, data exfiltration, or deployment of ransomware within the backup infrastructure.

The primary vendor advisory is available at veeam.com/kb4724, with additional technical analysis published by watchTowr Labs. The current EPSS score of 0.4132 matches the observed peak, indicating sustained exploitation interest since disclosure.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A vulnerability allowing remote code execution (RCE) for domain users.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-40711Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2024-42453Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2026-21708Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2022-26500Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2024-40712Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2022-26501Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2023-27532Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2024-40717Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2024-42455Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication
CVE-2024-42456Same product: Veeam Veeam Backup \& Replication

Affected Assets

veeam
veeam backup \& replication
12.0.0.1402 — 12.3.1.1139

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Developer testing and evaluation can uncover deserialization flaws before deployment.

Input validation directly stops deserialization of untrusted data by ensuring inputs are valid before processing.

Engineering principles such as safe deserialization and input sanitization structurally prevent the weakness from being introduced.

Integrity verification tools can detect malformed or tampered serialized data after the fact.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-02 none match
prevents

PR.PS-02 addresses only post-deployment updates/patching and cannot prevent introduction of unsafe deserialization code, yet it can remediate some instances when the flaw exists in outdated libraries or components.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing includes validation of deserialization routines and the use of untrusted data, reducing the likelihood that unsafe object reconstruction will be deployed.

prevents

Requiring vetted libraries, regular updates and SAST before release reduces the likelihood that deserialization logic will accept and act on attacker-controlled serialized objects.

finds

Regular scanning of third-party libraries and timely patching reduce the likelihood that unsafe deserialization vulnerabilities remain active.

none

Mandatory malware scanning of data received over networks or storage media intercepts malicious serialized payloads before they are deserialized by the target application.

References