Case Study
Case Study: Attackers Exploit Gladinet CentreStack and Triofox Vulnerability (CVE-2025-11371)
📊Incident Overview
Date & Scale: The vulnerability was actively exploited starting from September 27, 2025, affecting multiple users of Gladinet CentreStack and Triofox across various organizations globally.
Perpetrators: The attackers remain unspecified, but the exploitation of CVE-2025-11371 suggests a sophisticated threat actor capable of leveraging zero-day vulnerabilities.
Perpetrators: The attackers remain unspecified, but the exploitation of CVE-2025-11371 suggests a sophisticated threat actor capable of leveraging zero-day vulnerabilities.
🔧Technical Breakdown
The exploitation of CVE-2025-11371 is characterized as a critical unauthenticated Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this flaw to access sensitive system files without any form of authentication. The attack mechanism typically involves the following steps:
Identification of Vulnerability: Attackers discover the LFI vulnerability through techniques such as reverse engineering and fuzzing.
Development of Exploit Code: They create reliable exploit code capable of triggering the LFI across various environments.
Deployment of Attack: Once the exploit is refined, it is used to target specific organizations, allowing attackers unauthorized access to the file system and potentially sensitive information.
Identification of Vulnerability: Attackers discover the LFI vulnerability through techniques such as reverse engineering and fuzzing.
Development of Exploit Code: They create reliable exploit code capable of triggering the LFI across various environments.
Deployment of Attack: Once the exploit is refined, it is used to target specific organizations, allowing attackers unauthorized access to the file system and potentially sensitive information.
💥Damage & Data Exfiltration
The following items were compromised or at risk due to the exploitation of CVE-2025-11371:
- Unauthorized access to sensitive internal files
- Potential exposure of configuration files and credentials
- Risk of data modification or deletion
- Increased risk of further attacks due to compromised system integrity
- Unauthorized access to sensitive internal files
- Potential exposure of configuration files and credentials
- Risk of data modification or deletion
- Increased risk of further attacks due to compromised system integrity
⚠️Operational Disruptions
Organizations utilizing Gladinet CentreStack and Triofox experienced significant disruptions:
Operational Delays: Many businesses had to halt or slow down operations due to the breach, leading to inefficiencies.
Manual Processes: Some organizations reverted to manual processes for file management and collaboration, significantly limiting productivity.
Increased Support Load: IT departments faced overwhelming demand for support as they attempted to mitigate the effects of the breach.
Operational Delays: Many businesses had to halt or slow down operations due to the breach, leading to inefficiencies.
Manual Processes: Some organizations reverted to manual processes for file management and collaboration, significantly limiting productivity.
Increased Support Load: IT departments faced overwhelming demand for support as they attempted to mitigate the effects of the breach.
🔍Root Causes
The incident highlights several root causes and vulnerabilities:
Unpatched Software: The existence of a zero-day vulnerability indicates inadequate patch management and responsiveness from the vendor.
Lack of Awareness: Many organizations were not fully aware of the risks associated with unpatched software vulnerabilities.
Inadequate Security Controls: Insufficient security measures in place to detect or prevent unauthorized file access.
Unpatched Software: The existence of a zero-day vulnerability indicates inadequate patch management and responsiveness from the vendor.
Lack of Awareness: Many organizations were not fully aware of the risks associated with unpatched software vulnerabilities.
Inadequate Security Controls: Insufficient security measures in place to detect or prevent unauthorized file access.
📚Lessons Learned
To mitigate the risk of similar incidents in the future, organizations should consider implementing the following actionable recommendations:
Immediate Mitigation Steps: Modify the Web.config file as a temporary measure until a patch is released.
Regular Vulnerability Assessments: Conduct frequent vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate potential security weaknesses.
Enhance Patch Management: Establish a proactive patch management strategy to ensure timely updates for all software.
User Training and Awareness: Implement regular training programs to educate employees about cybersecurity risks and best practices.
Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly update an incident response plan to ensure quick and effective actions can be taken in the event of a breach.
This case study underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity practices and proactive measures to protect against emerging threats in an increasingly digital landscape.
Immediate Mitigation Steps: Modify the Web.config file as a temporary measure until a patch is released.
Regular Vulnerability Assessments: Conduct frequent vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate potential security weaknesses.
Enhance Patch Management: Establish a proactive patch management strategy to ensure timely updates for all software.
User Training and Awareness: Implement regular training programs to educate employees about cybersecurity risks and best practices.
Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly update an incident response plan to ensure quick and effective actions can be taken in the event of a breach.
This case study underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity practices and proactive measures to protect against emerging threats in an increasingly digital landscape.