CVE-2025-24404 is a high-severity XML Injection vulnerability, specifically a Blind XPath Injection, found in Apache HertzBeat (incubating) versions prior to 1.7.0. Apache HertzBeat is an open-source monitoring platform developed by the Apache Software Foundation. The vulnerability arises during the parsing of HTTP sitemap XML responses when an attacker with an authenticated account adds a monitor that processes XML data. By injecting specially crafted XML content, the attacker can exploit the XML parsing mechanism to execute remote code (RCE) on the server. This occurs because the application does not properly sanitize or validate XML input, allowing malicious XPath expressions or XML payloads to be processed. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have valid credentials with access to the system, but no user interaction beyond that is needed. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.8, reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The issue was publicly disclosed on September 9, 2025, and fixed in version 1.7.0 of Apache HertzBeat. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-91 (XML Injection), which involves injecting malicious XML content to manipulate the logic of XML parsers or XPath queries, potentially leading to code execution or data breaches.

For European organizations using Apache HertzBeat for monitoring infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on monitoring servers, leading to full system compromise. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data, disruption of monitoring services, and potential lateral movement within enterprise networks. Given that monitoring platforms often have elevated privileges or access to critical infrastructure components, the impact extends to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of enterprise systems. The requirement for authenticated access reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with weak credential management or insider threats. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and government, which rely heavily on monitoring for operational continuity and compliance, could face severe operational disruptions and regulatory consequences if exploited. Additionally, the ability to execute remote code could facilitate deployment of ransomware or other malware, amplifying the threat impact.

1. Immediate upgrade to Apache HertzBeat version 1.7.0 or later, which contains the patch for this vulnerability, is the most effective mitigation. 2. Restrict and audit user accounts with access to add or modify monitors, enforcing the principle of least privilege to minimize the number of users who can trigger the vulnerability. 3. Implement strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 4. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual XML payloads or unexpected modifications to monitoring configurations that could indicate attempted exploitation. 5. Employ network segmentation to isolate monitoring infrastructure from general user networks, limiting the ability of attackers to reach vulnerable services. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on monitoring platforms to detect potential weaknesses. 7. Educate administrators and users with access about the risks of XML injection and the importance of secure configuration management. 8. If upgrading immediately is not feasible, consider applying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious XML content targeting XPath injection patterns.