CVE-2025-10020 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Zohocorp's ManageEngine ADManager Plus product, affecting versions prior to 8024. The flaw resides in the Custom Script component, where improper neutralization of special elements leads to a command injection vulnerability (CWE-77). This vulnerability allows an authenticated user with at least limited privileges to inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands on the server hosting ADManager Plus. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.9 reflects the vulnerability's critical nature, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and scope change (S:C). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker can fully compromise the system, access sensitive data, modify or delete information, and disrupt services. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, which could be obtained via compromised credentials or insider threat. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime candidate for exploitation once weaponized. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting necessitates immediate risk mitigation strategies. The Custom Script feature is commonly used to automate Active Directory management tasks, so exploitation could lead to broader network compromise. Organizations using this product should consider the vulnerability a critical risk to their identity and access management infrastructure.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-10020 is substantial. ManageEngine ADManager Plus is widely used for Active Directory management, a core component in enterprise IT environments. Exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, lateral movement, and disruption of directory services. This could affect confidentiality of sensitive user and organizational data, integrity of directory configurations, and availability of authentication services. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications, which rely heavily on Active Directory for identity management, are at heightened risk. The scope of impact extends beyond the compromised server, as attackers could leverage this foothold to infiltrate internal networks. The requirement for authentication reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with weak credential management or insider threats. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the critical severity demands urgent attention to prevent potential widespread exploitation in Europe.

Immediate mitigation steps include restricting access to the ManageEngine ADManager Plus application to trusted administrators only, ideally through network segmentation and VPNs. Organizations should enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Until an official patch is released, disable or limit the use of the Custom Script component if feasible, or audit all custom scripts for unsafe command usage. Monitor logs for unusual command execution or privilege escalation attempts within the ADManager Plus environment. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) to minimize the number of users with privileges to execute custom scripts. Regularly review and rotate credentials associated with the application. Once patches become available, prioritize their deployment in all affected environments. Additionally, conduct security awareness training to reduce insider threat risks and ensure incident response plans include scenarios involving directory service compromise. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts.