GMOD Apollo Relative Path Traversal

The vulnerability lies in how GMOD Apollo handles uploaded organism and sequence data. Specifically, when users upload files via the web interface, Apollo unzips and inspects them without proper path validation for archive types. An attacker can craft a malicious archive containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../../etc/passwd) within the archive's file structure. Upon extraction, Apollo will attempt to access these files, potentially exposing sensitive system files or application configuration data. The blast radius extends to any data accessible by the Apollo process, potentially including user credentials, database connection strings, and other confidential information. This vulnerability is particularly concerning given the potential for unauthorized access and data exfiltration.

Organizations utilizing GMOD Apollo for genomic data management, particularly those with publicly accessible web interfaces for data upload, are at significant risk. Shared hosting environments where multiple users upload data to a single Apollo instance are especially vulnerable, as a compromised user account could be leveraged to access data belonging to other users.

• linux / server: Monitor Apollo's log files for unusual file access attempts, particularly those involving .. sequences. Use auditd to track file access events and create rules to alert on suspicious patterns.

auditctl -w /path/to/apollo/unzip_directory -p wa -k apollo_path_traversal

• generic web: Use curl to test file upload endpoints with payloads containing path traversal sequences and observe the server's response. Check for error messages indicating unauthorized access attempts.

curl -F 'file=@malicious_archive.zip' http://apollo_server/upload

1. 2025-03-04Disclosure

   disclosure

1. Reserviert2025-02-27
2. Veröffentlicht2025-03-04
3. Geändert2025-03-05
4. EPSS aktualisiert2026-04-02

The primary mitigation for CVE-2025-23410 is to upgrade GMOD Apollo to version 2.8.0 or later, which includes the necessary path validation fixes. If immediate upgrading is not possible, consider implementing temporary workarounds. These may include restricting file upload types to only those absolutely necessary, implementing strict file size limits, and employing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block attempts to include path traversal sequences in uploaded files. Regularly review and audit file upload processes to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. After upgrading, confirm the fix by attempting to upload a test archive containing a path traversal sequence and verifying that Apollo denies access.