# CVE-2025-65118: AVEVA Process Optimization Uncontrolled Search Path Element

> An authenticated user can exploit an uncontrolled search path to load arbitrary code and escalate privileges to system level on the Model Application Server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Jan 2026
- **Updated:** 16 Jan 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-24vm-pm89-83j4

## What is CVE-2025-65118?

CVE-2025-65118 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in AVEVA Process Optimization, published on 16 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The vulnerability, if exploited, could allow an authenticated miscreant 
(OS Standard User) to trick Process Optimization services into loading 
arbitrary code and escalate privileges to OS System, potentially 
resulting in complete compromise of the Model Application Server.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-65118?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Aveva Process Optimization.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-65118?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-65118 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-65118 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-65118 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in AVEVA Process Optimization

- [CVE-2025-61937](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-61937/): AVEVA Process Optimization Code Injection (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2025-61943](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-61943/): AVEVA Process Optimization SQL Injection (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2025-64691](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-64691/): AVEVA Process Optimization Code Injection (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2025-64729](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-64729/): AVEVA Process Optimization Missing Authorization (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2025-65117](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-65117/): AVEVA Process Optimization Use of Potentially Dangerous Function (high 8.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-65118 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-65118 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in AVEVA Process Optimization, published on 16 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-65118 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: AVEVA Process Optimization. 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-2025-65118/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-65118/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-65118
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-65118
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-65118

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-65118/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.