# CVE-2025-34098: Riverbed SteelHead VCX Authenticated Arbitrary File Read via Log Filter Injection

> An authenticated attacker can read arbitrary system files on Riverbed SteelHead VCX appliances by exploiting path traversal in the log filter interface.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Jul 2025
- **Updated:** 14 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2qvj-jmw6-qxmf

## What is CVE-2025-34098?

CVE-2025-34098 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Riverbed Technology SteelHead VCX, published on 10 Jul 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A path traversal vulnerability exists in Riverbed SteelHead VCX appliances (confirmed in VCX255U 9.6.0a) due to improper input validation in the log filtering functionality exposed via the management web interface. An authenticated attacker can exploit this flaw by submitting crafted filter expressions to the log_filter endpoint using the filterStr parameter. This input is processed by a backend parser that permits execution of file expansion syntax, allowing the attacker to retrieve arbitrary system files via the log viewing interface.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-34098?


## How do I fix CVE-2025-34098?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-34098 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-34098 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-34098 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Riverbed SteelHead VCX File Read (metasploit)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-34098 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-34098 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Riverbed Technology SteelHead VCX, published on 10 Jul 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-34098 exists.

Affected product: Riverbed Technology SteelHead VCX. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-34098/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-34098/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-34098
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-34098
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-34098

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-34098/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.