A newly disclosed vulnerability in Soffid Console (CVE-2025-32408) exposes systems to remote code execution through insecure Java deserialization. The flaw affects versions before 3.5.39 and carries a CVSS score of 8.5 (High severity), making it a priority for security teams managing identity and access management systems.
Executive Summary
The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of Java objects during deserialization in Soffid Console’s Sync Server component. Attackers could exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without authentication. This follows a pattern of similar Java deserialization vulnerabilities that have impacted enterprise systems in recent years, including notable cases in Apache Tomcat and Cisco ISE1.
- CVE: CVE-2025-32408
- Affected Versions: Soffid Console 3.5.38 and earlier
- CVSS Score: 8.5 (High)
- Impact: Remote Code Execution
- Patch Available: Version 3.5.39
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability occurs when the Sync Server component processes serialized Java objects without proper validation. Java’s native serialization mechanism can be abused to execute arbitrary code when deserializing untrusted data. This attack vector has been well-documented since the discovery of vulnerabilities in Apache Commons Collections2.
While no public proof-of-concept exists for CVE-2025-32408, similar Java deserialization vulnerabilities typically follow this pattern:
ObjectInputStream ois = new ObjectInputStream(inputStream);
Object obj = ois.readObject(); // Vulnerable deserialization
The Sync Server’s failure to implement proper input validation or use secure alternatives like JSON or XML serialization creates the attack surface. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, particularly dangerous in identity management systems that often store sensitive credentials and access controls.
Context and Related Vulnerabilities
Java deserialization vulnerabilities remain prevalent in enterprise systems. Recent high-severity examples include:
| CVE | Product | CVSS | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-24813 | Apache Tomcat 10.1.x | 9.8 | NVD |
| CVE-2025-20124 | Cisco ISE | 9.9 | Cisco Advisory |
| CVE-2025-2251 | WildFly/JBoss EAP | 9.8 | NVD |
These cases demonstrate the continued risk of insecure deserialization in Java-based middleware, particularly in systems handling authentication and authorization3.
Mitigation and Remediation
Soffid has released version 3.5.39 to address this vulnerability. Organizations should:
- Immediately upgrade to Soffid Console 3.5.39 or later
- Implement network segmentation to restrict access to Sync Server components
- Monitor for suspicious Java deserialization attempts in logs
- Consider implementing serialization filters if using Java 9+
For systems that cannot be immediately patched, temporary mitigations include:
# Java serialization filter example (JDK 9+)
System.setProperty("jdk.serialFilter", "!*");
Detection and Monitoring
Security teams should monitor for these indicators of potential exploitation:
- Unexpected Java process spawning from Soffid Console services
- Network traffic containing serialized Java objects (typically base64-encoded)
- Abnormal system commands executed by the Soffid service account
SIEM rules should focus on Java deserialization-related exceptions in application logs, which often precede successful exploitation attempts.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-32408 represents a significant risk to organizations using affected versions of Soffid Console, particularly given the product’s role in identity management. The vulnerability follows established patterns of Java deserialization flaws that have been exploited in numerous high-profile attacks. Prompt patching and implementation of defensive controls are recommended to mitigate risk.
The persistence of such vulnerabilities in critical enterprise software underscores the need for secure coding practices around object serialization and thorough security reviews of middleware components.
References
- “Updated Research on Deserialization Vulnerabilities (2020-2025)”, Consolidated Research Data, 2025
- “Deserialization Attacks in Modern Systems”, IEEE S&P, 2023
- “Rapid7 Analysis on Tomcat CVE-2025-24813”, Rapid7, March 2025
- “Cisco ISE Advisory”, Cisco, 2025
- “Wallarm Exploit Deep Dive”, Wallarm, 2025
- “Google Cloud: Hunting Deserialization Exploits”, Google, 2024
