CVE-2025-14306 is a critical security vulnerability classified under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal) affecting the Robocode Project's CacheCleaner component in version 1.9.3.6. The vulnerability stems from the recursivelyDelete method, which is responsible for deleting files recursively but fails to properly sanitize or validate file path inputs. This flaw allows an attacker to submit specially crafted file paths that traverse outside the intended directory boundaries, enabling deletion of arbitrary files on the host system. Since the method does not enforce restrictions on the pathname, attackers can manipulate directory traversal sequences (e.g., using '../') to access and delete files beyond the CacheCleaner’s scope. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without requiring authentication or user interaction, increasing the risk of automated or widespread attacks. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/AU:Y/R:U/V:D/RE:M/U:Red) reflects a critical severity with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, emphasizing the potential for significant damage. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability’s nature and ease of exploitation make it a high-risk threat. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting necessitates immediate attention from users of Robocode 1.9.3.6 to implement compensating controls or upgrade once fixes are available.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-14306 can be severe, particularly for institutions using Robocode in educational, research, or software development contexts. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized deletion of critical files, resulting in data loss, disruption of services, and potential downtime. This compromises system integrity and availability, which can affect operational continuity and trustworthiness of affected systems. In environments where Robocode is integrated into automated workflows or shared systems, the risk of cascading failures or broader system compromise increases. Additionally, if sensitive or regulatory data is deleted, organizations may face compliance issues under GDPR and other data protection frameworks. The vulnerability’s remote exploitability without authentication further elevates the threat level, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to cause disruption or sabotage.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting network access to the Robocode service to trusted users and environments only, using firewalls or network segmentation to limit exposure. 2. Monitor and audit file system activities related to the CacheCleaner component to detect unusual deletion patterns or unauthorized file access. 3. Implement application-level input validation and sanitization to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed by the recursivelyDelete method, if source code modification is feasible. 4. Employ file system permissions and access controls to limit the CacheCleaner’s ability to delete files outside its intended directory scope, using OS-level sandboxing or containerization techniques. 5. Regularly back up critical data and system files to enable recovery in case of successful exploitation. 6. Stay alert for official patches or updates from the Robocode Project and apply them promptly once available. 7. Educate developers and system administrators about the risks of path traversal vulnerabilities and secure coding practices to prevent similar issues.