CVE-2025-11462: CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') in AWS Client VPN
CVE-2025-11462 is a critical vulnerability affecting AWS Client VPN on macOS versions 1.3.2 through 5.2.0. It arises from improper link resolution before file access during log rotation, allowing a local non-administrator user to create a symbolic link from a client log file to a privileged location. This flaw can enable arbitrary code execution with root privileges if malicious code is injected into the log file via crafted API calls. AWS has addressed this issue in version 5.2.1 and later.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability (CVE-2025-11462) in AWS Client VPN for macOS involves CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access). During log rotation, the software improperly resolves symbolic links, permitting a local non-privileged user to create a symlink from a client log file to a privileged system location. If an attacker crafts API calls that inject malicious code into the log file, this can lead to arbitrary code execution with root privileges. The vulnerability affects versions 1.3.2 through 5.2.0 and has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3, indicating critical severity. AWS recommends upgrading to version 5.2.1 or later to remediate this issue.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows a local non-administrator user to escalate privileges to root by leveraging symbolic link manipulation during log rotation and injecting malicious code into log files. This can result in arbitrary code execution with the highest system privileges, posing a critical security risk on affected macOS clients running AWS Client VPN versions 1.3.2 through 5.2.0.
Mitigation Recommendations
AWS has released an official fix in AWS Client VPN version 5.2.1. Users should upgrade to version 5.2.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
CVE-2025-11462: CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') in AWS Client VPN
Description
CVE-2025-11462 is a critical vulnerability affecting AWS Client VPN on macOS versions 1.3.2 through 5.2.0. It arises from improper link resolution before file access during log rotation, allowing a local non-administrator user to create a symbolic link from a client log file to a privileged location. This flaw can enable arbitrary code execution with root privileges if malicious code is injected into the log file via crafted API calls. AWS has addressed this issue in version 5.2.1 and later.
CVSS v4.0
Score 9.3critical
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability (CVE-2025-11462) in AWS Client VPN for macOS involves CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access). During log rotation, the software improperly resolves symbolic links, permitting a local non-privileged user to create a symlink from a client log file to a privileged system location. If an attacker crafts API calls that inject malicious code into the log file, this can lead to arbitrary code execution with root privileges. The vulnerability affects versions 1.3.2 through 5.2.0 and has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3, indicating critical severity. AWS recommends upgrading to version 5.2.1 or later to remediate this issue.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows a local non-administrator user to escalate privileges to root by leveraging symbolic link manipulation during log rotation and injecting malicious code into log files. This can result in arbitrary code execution with the highest system privileges, posing a critical security risk on affected macOS clients running AWS Client VPN versions 1.3.2 through 5.2.0.
Mitigation Recommendations
AWS has released an official fix in AWS Client VPN version 5.2.1. Users should upgrade to version 5.2.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigations are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- AMZN
- Date Reserved
- 2025-10-07T19:19:54.057Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 68e57159a677756fc9a082f7
Added to database: 10/07/2025, 20:00:25 UTC
Last enriched: 06/05/2026, 19:29:00 UTC
Last updated: 08/19/2026, 10:57:04 UTC
Views: 357
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