CVE-2025-42999
CVE-2025-42999 is a security flaw in SAP NetWeaver, SAP’s platform for running business applications. Attackers are using a flaw in SAP NetWeaver. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 15 May 2025, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
SAP NetWeaver is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. SAP has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a deserialization in SAP NetWeaver. In its words: “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.”[1]
The underlying weakness is deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 9.1 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; SAP’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as SAP NetWeaver.
Most families won’t have SAP NetWeaver; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 15 May 2025, 2 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 5 Jun 2025 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 13%. That’s in the top 4% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
SAP has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s 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.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.SAP NetWeaver is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 5 Jun 2025 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.1.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 13%.[4] |
See also
Other SAP NetWeaver flaws
- CVE-2025-31324: unrestricted file upload ·
- CVE-2017-12637: directory traversal ·
- CVE-2021-38163: unrestricted file upload ·
- CVE-2016-2388: information disclosure ·
- CVE-2016-2386: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2020-6287: missing authentication for critical function ·
Other SAP flaws
- CVE-2019-0344, SAP Commerce Cloud: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2022-22536, SAP products: HTTP request smuggling ·
- CVE-2020-6207, SAP Solution Manager: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2018-2380, SAP Customer Relationship Management (CRM): path traversal ·
Other deserialization of untrusted data flaws
- CVE-2021-23758, Ajax.NET Professional: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-63077, JetBrains TeamCity: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-50522, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-58644, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-45659, Microsoft SharePoint Server: deserialization of untrusted data ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-12987, DrayTek Vigor Routers: OS command injection ·
Every SAP flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in May 2025
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “SAP NetWeaver Deserialization Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 15 May 2025.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2025-42999 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 13 May 2025.
- ^ SAP. Advisories and fixes: me.sap.com, url.sap.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.129, percentile 96.3, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2025-42999”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.