CVE-2025-14728 is a directory traversal vulnerability identified in Rapid7 Velociraptor versions before 0.75.6, specifically affecting Linux server deployments. Velociraptor is a digital forensics and endpoint monitoring tool that typically restricts file writes to a designated datastore directory. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of directory names that end with a dot ('.'). While the system encodes the final dot as "%2E", this encoding is insufficient to prevent directory traversal, allowing a rogue client to upload files outside the intended datastore directory. However, the exploit is constrained by the requirement that the target directory must end with "%2E", which limits the ability to overwrite critical system files or directories. The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the system by enabling unauthorized file placement, potentially allowing attackers to tamper with forensic data or implant malicious files that could affect incident response activities. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.8 reflects a medium severity with a network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability presents a risk to organizations relying on Velociraptor for security monitoring and forensic investigations. The issue highlights the importance of robust input validation and strict directory traversal protections in security tools that handle sensitive data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the integrity of forensic and monitoring data managed by Velociraptor. Attackers exploiting this flaw could place unauthorized files outside the designated datastore, potentially leading to tampering with incident response evidence or insertion of malicious payloads that evade detection. Although the overwrite scope is limited and critical system files cannot be directly overwritten, the ability to write files outside the intended directory undermines trust in the tool's data integrity. This could impact organizations in sectors with stringent compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where forensic accuracy is paramount. Additionally, organizations using Velociraptor in managed detection and response (MDR) services or security operations centers (SOCs) could face operational disruptions or false incident data. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable, it requires careful attention to patching and monitoring to prevent potential misuse.

1. Upgrade Velociraptor to version 0.75.6 or later immediately, as this version addresses the directory traversal vulnerability. 2. Implement strict input validation on directory and file names, ensuring that any special characters such as dots or encoded sequences cannot be used to escape the intended datastore directory. 3. Employ file integrity monitoring on the Velociraptor datastore and adjacent directories to detect unauthorized file writes or modifications. 4. Restrict network access to Velociraptor server endpoints to trusted clients only, minimizing exposure to rogue clients attempting exploitation. 5. Conduct regular audits of Velociraptor logs and uploaded files to identify anomalous activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Consider deploying application-layer firewalls or intrusion detection systems with rules tailored to detect suspicious path traversal patterns targeting Velociraptor. 7. Educate security teams about this specific vulnerability to ensure rapid response and remediation in case of detection.