CISA Warns: NAKIVO Vulnerability Actively Exploited – Patch Now!

In a significant cybersecurity alert, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a critical vulnerability in NAKIVO Backup & Replication software to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. This action follows active exploitation of the flaw, which poses severe risks to organizations relying on the software for data protection and recovery.

A Critical Security Concern

Identified as CVE-2024-48248, this vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to read files from the targeted system, including sensitive data such as /etc/shadow, which contains hashed password information. The flaw is linked to the software’s /c/router endpoint, enabling adversaries to access critical files remotely.

Scope and Impact

The vulnerability affects all versions of NAKIVO Backup & Replication prior to 10.11.3.86570. Organizations using outdated versions are at immediate risk, as threat actors have been observed exploiting the flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive backups, configurations, and credentials.

If exploited successfully, an attacker could:

• Extract confidential information from backup files.
• Gain insights into system configurations, potentially leading to further compromise.
• Escalate privileges within the affected system.

CISA’s Response and Remediation Timeline

CISA has issued a directive requiring all U.S. federal agencies to remediate this vulnerability by April 9, 2025. The agency strongly advises all organizations—public and private—to apply the latest security patch as soon as possible to mitigate the risk.

Steps for Protection

Organizations using NAKIVO Backup & Replication should take the following actions immediately:

1. Update to the latest version (10.11.3.86570 or newer) to close the security gap.
2. Review access logs for any unusual activity that may indicate exploitation attempts.
3. Restrict access to backup servers and ensure only trusted users and services have necessary permissions.
4. Implement network segmentation to isolate critical infrastructure from potential threats.
5. Enable strong authentication measures, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), to enhance security.

Cybersecurity Implications

The inclusion of CVE-2024-48248 in the KEV catalog highlights the ongoing risks associated with unpatched software. Attackers continue to target vulnerabilities in backup solutions, recognizing their role as a critical safeguard for organizational resilience. Businesses and government agencies must stay vigilant, ensuring they proactively address emerging threats.

For more details on this vulnerability and CISA’s official advisory, refer to their published security bulletin.

Stay ahead of the threat—secure your backups and protect your critical data.

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