Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited
CVE-2025-42999: SAP NetWeaver Deserialization Vulnerability
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer Metadata Uploader is vulnerable when a privileged user can upload untrusted or malicious content which, when deserialized, could potentially lead to a compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host system.
CISA KEV · added 2025-05-15 CVSS 9.1 Critical EPSS 12.9% · p96 Check exposure
Should you act?
Exploited: patch now if you run it
CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Yes, if you run SAP NetWeaver. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-05-15, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-06-05; treat that as the outer limit, not the target. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- EPSS 12.9%, percentile 96: FIRST’s model estimates a 12.9% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 96% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (high (admin)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Editorial verdict: Check exposure. SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer: Unauthenticated Upload RCE — Patches have existed since April and May 2025, but this was a mass-exploited zero-day used by ransomware crews, so every SAP Java shop should confirm the fix and hunt for leftover webshells.
What it is
SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer Metadata Uploader is vulnerable when a privileged user can upload untrusted or malicious content which, when deserialized, could potentially lead to a compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host system.
CISA’s summary
SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer Metadata Uploader contains a deserialization vulnerability that allows a privileged attacker to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host system by deserializing untrusted or malicious content.
Weakness type: CWE-502.
Product: SAP NetWeaver · Assigned by: sap · Published: 2025-05-13
Affected and fixed versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| SAP_SE | SAP NetWeaver (Visual Composer development server) | VCFRAMEWORK 7.50 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| sap | 3.1 | 9.1 Critical | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: high (admin)
- User interaction: none
- Scope: changed (can affect other components)
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: added 2025-05-15; federal due date 2025-06-05. Known ransomware use: Known.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 12.85% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 96.
Timeline
- — erroneo.us brief: SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer: Unauthenticated Upload RCE
- — CVE record published by sap
- — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- Listed in CISA KEV notes (me.sap.com) me.sap.com
Vulnerability records
- CVE.org record CVE-2025-42999 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2025-42999 nvd.nist.gov
Government
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- url.sap url.sap
- onapsis.com onapsis.com