CVE-2025-53880 is a path traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-35, found in the SUSE Manager container image suse/manager/4.3/proxy-httpd:latest. The vulnerability resides in the tftpsync/add and tftpsync/delete scripts, which handle file synchronization tasks. Due to improper validation of file paths, a remote attacker located on an adjacent network segment can craft requests that traverse directories and write or delete arbitrary files on the filesystem. The actions are performed with the privileges of the wwwrun user, an unprivileged account, which limits but does not eliminate the potential damage. The endpoint is unauthenticated, increasing the risk, but access is restricted by an IP whitelist, which somewhat mitigates exposure. The CVSS v4.0 score of 8.7 reflects a high severity, driven by the lack of authentication, low attack complexity, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to systems using this container image, especially in environments where network segmentation is insufficient or IP whitelisting is misconfigured. The vulnerability could be exploited to manipulate configuration files, disrupt services, or implant malicious files, potentially leading to broader compromise.

For European organizations, exploitation of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized modification or deletion of critical files within SUSE Manager proxy containers, potentially disrupting IT management operations and services dependent on these containers. This could lead to service outages, data integrity issues, and exposure of sensitive configuration data. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure that rely on SUSE Manager for system management are particularly at risk. The ability to write or delete files without authentication increases the threat of lateral movement or persistence within internal networks. Given the adjacency network requirement, organizations with flat or poorly segmented networks face higher risk. The impact extends to operational disruption and potential compliance violations under regulations like GDPR if sensitive data is affected.

1. Immediately review and tighten network segmentation to ensure that only trusted IP addresses can reach the vulnerable tftpsync endpoints, minimizing the attack surface. 2. Implement strict IP whitelisting and verify that the allowed IP list is limited to essential management systems only. 3. Monitor filesystem changes within the container environment for unauthorized file creation or deletion, using host-based intrusion detection systems or container security tools. 4. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available from SUSE to remediate the vulnerability. 5. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) or container security solutions that can detect and block path traversal attempts. 6. Conduct regular audits of container configurations and access controls to prevent misconfigurations that could increase exposure. 7. If patching is delayed, consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to the vulnerable scripts or services if operationally feasible.