Critical CISA KEV Updates Highlight Rapidly Exploited Vulnerabilities in Wazuh and WebDAV

Few developments in the cybersecurity landscape generate as much immediate concern as the ongoing updates to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. When CISA adds new vulnerabilities based on evidence of active exploitation, it sends a clear signal to federal agencies and private organizations alike: time is ticking on patching critical holes that attackers are already leveraging in the wild. The recent addition of CVE-2025-24016, a Wazuh Server deserialization flaw, and CVE-2025-33053, a Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) external control vulnerability, underscores not only technical shortcomings but also systemic risks in current infrastructure and application security practices across sectors. This analysis dives deep into the latest CISA alert, the technical specifics and impact of these vulnerabilities, and the broader implications for both the federal enterprise and the wider IT community.

The Expanding Horizon of Active Exploitation​

The KEV catalog, maintained under the authority of CISA’s Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01, isn’t a theoretical wishlist of flaws; rather, it’s a living, prioritized registry of vulnerabilities that have been observed under active exploitation. As attacks increase in sophistication and scale, this catalog becomes a barometer of what malicious actors are currently focusing on and which security gaps are the most perilous if left unaddressed.
By including CVE-2025-24016 and CVE-2025-33053, CISA is highlighting a pair of weaknesses that pose an imminent threat to organizations that rely either on Wazuh for security monitoring, or on WebDAV services for collaborative file sharing and storage. Significantly, these aren’t just “possible risks”—they are attack vectors already being weaponized, as confirmed by CISA’s vetting process and the requirements of BOD 22-01.

Understanding CVE-2025-24016: Wazuh Deserialization of Untrusted Data​

What is Wazuh?​

Wazuh is a widely deployed, open-source security monitoring platform. It extends the features of the popular OSSEC project, adding visibility, intrusion detection, log analysis, vulnerability detection, and more—making it a popular choice across enterprises and managed security service providers.

The Vulnerability​

CVE-2025-24016 has been classified as a deserialization of untrusted data flaw. In broad terms, deserialization vulnerabilities occur when attackers supply maliciously crafted data to an application expecting serialized input, allowing them to manipulate application logic or execute arbitrary code during the deserialization process. In Wazuh’s case, improperly validated input can lead to remote code execution (RCE), one of the most severe types of vulnerabilities due to its potential for complete system compromise.

Risk and Exploitation​

According to available threat intelligence, exploitation of this flaw does not require authentication or special privileges—the attacker simply needs access to an exposed API endpoint or message handler. Several security advisories indicate that publicly-exposed Wazuh installations are especially at risk, and that attackers can leverage this flaw to install backdoors, manipulate logs, or move laterally within compromised environments.
Critically, this flaw’s presence in a security monitoring platform increases its impact. Attackers could tamper with or disable detection mechanisms, making subsequent attacks stealthier and more persistent.

Remediation​

Wazuh responded to these reports with a series of updates, urging immediate patching and, where not possible, the network isolation of Wazuh server interfaces. Security teams should prioritize not only updating to the fixed release but also reviewing network segmentation rules and logging configurations to detect abnormal interactions that may point to attempted exploitation.

The WebDAV Danger: CVE-2025-33053 and External Control Flaws​

WebDAV in the Enterprise​

Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) is a set of extensions to HTTP that allow users to collaboratively edit and manage files on remote web servers. While useful for productivity and workflow automation, WebDAV surfaces a complex attack surface—especially in legacy or poorly configured environments.

Windows and WebDAV: A Risky Combination​

History has shown that Windows environments relying on WebDAV are frequent targets, not least because WebDAV’s file sharing features interact closely with the Windows file system. Numerous ransomware and data exfiltration campaigns have exploited WebDAV, either to deliver malicious payloads or to exfiltrate sensitive data with few barriers.

The Vulnerability​

CVE-2025-33053 is described as an “External Control of File Name or Path Vulnerability.” This means that a remote attacker could manipulate file paths processed by the service, ultimately allowing them to create or overwrite arbitrary files on the server. Such vulnerabilities are notorious stepping stones for code execution, data corruption, or the establishment of unauthorized access points.

Active Exploitation and Threat Intelligence​

Current reporting and CISA’s vetting indicate that attacks are ongoing. Tactics include crafting WebDAV requests with specially formed file names or directories to bypass access restrictions or escalate privileges within an organization’s internal network.
Given the broad deployment of WebDAV, particularly in Windows-based enterprise environments and supported by built-in Windows features, the scope for both targeted and opportunistic attacks is significant. Notably, Microsoft has issued repeated reminders for years regarding the need to segment, monitor, and restrict WebDAV traffic. Unsecured WebDAV endpoints are a perennial weak point across on-premises and cloud-hybrid deployments alike.

Remediation Steps​

Organizations should first determine whether WebDAV services are strictly necessary—and if they are, restrict access to known and trusted network segments only. Applying vendor patches and updating system policies to enforce strict input validation should be prioritized. Logging and monitoring for unusual WebDAV activity—such as the creation of unexpected files or directories—are essential, as is reviewing historic logs for indicators of compromise.

KEV Catalog and BOD 22-01: Not Just for Federal Agencies​

Although BOD 22-01 directly compels action within the Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB), CISA has been unequivocal: all organizations—public, private, large, or small—should treat the KEV catalog as a top priority for risk management. The rationale is straightforward: the vulnerabilities cataloged under KEV have moved from theoretical to real-world impact, and evidence of in-the-wild exploitation means that the window between initial discovery and organizational compromise is shrinking.
The operational directive mandates that covered agencies remediate newly listed vulnerabilities by a specified due date, lest attackers use lagging patch cycles as a pivot into critical government systems. For non-federal organizations, treating the KEV catalog as a “must-patch” list marks a shift from a risk-acceptance approach to one of proactive defense.

Strengths of the Current CISA Approach​

Evidence-Based Prioritization​

CISA’s KEV catalog stands out because it is grounded in real-world data. Unlike generic vulnerability databases, KEV requires concrete, observed exploitation before a CVE is included. This ensures that patching recommendations align with threat actor behavior on the ground, maximizing the effectiveness of limited security resources.

Public-Private Information Sharing​

CISA’s quick public disclosures and continued engagement with vendors and third-party researchers foster a collaborative approach to vulnerability management. By issuing clear policy directives, such as BOD 22-01, and following up with factsheets and technical guidance, CISA acts not only as a regulator but as an enabler of sector-wide cyber hygiene.

Living Threat Picture​

The regular cadence of KEV catalog updates encourages organizations to embed vulnerability management within ongoing processes rather than treating it as a point-in-time exercise. This is a distinct improvement over legacy models of annual or quarterly risk reviews.

Potential Weaknesses and Systemic Risks​

Patch Lag and Legacy Systems​

Despite the clarity of guidance, the reality remains that many organizations—including some within the federal enterprise—struggle to patch quickly, particularly when vulnerable systems are deeply integrated or when business continuity concerns prompt delays. Legacy applications, unsupported software, and bespoke deployments complicate remediation efforts.

Cloud and Hybrid Gaps​

As infrastructure shifts further towards cloud and hybrid models, visibility into vulnerable endpoints—and the ability to apply mitigations uniformly—becomes more challenging. Threat actors are adept at exploiting inconsistent configuration management, particularly when organizations are running a mix of on-premises, cloud-hosted, and managed third-party services.

Asset Discovery Blind Spots​

The efficiency of KEV-driven remediation is only as good as an organization’s ability to accurately inventory its assets. Untracked or “shadow IT” deployments may remain unpatched and vulnerable, serving as persistent footholds for attacks even as official systems are updated.

Critical Analysis: Immediate Implications for IT Stakeholders​

Given these latest additions to the KEV catalog, IT and security teams must ask themselves several key questions:

• Is Wazuh deployed within the organization, and if so, is the affected version present anywhere in the environment?
• If yes, patching must occur immediately, with special attention to air-gapped or otherwise “hidden” monitoring deployments.
• Is WebDAV enabled on any systems—intentionally or by default?
• WebDAV’s complexity and the regular emergence of new vulnerabilities demand periodic reevaluation of whether its features are truly necessary. Disabling WebDAV when not required is a prudent defensive posture.
• Are compensating controls in place?
• Firewalls, network segmentation, and strong authentication mechanisms can mitigate some risk, but these should be considered stopgaps, not substitutes for full remediation.
• How is vulnerability management communicated and enforced across business and technical units?
• Cross-functional awareness—especially between security, operations, and IT—remains essential for timely response.

The Supply Chain Factor​

These vulnerabilities also raise classic software supply chain concerns. Wazuh, often deployed as a free or open-source component, may be bundled or managed by third-party providers. Similarly, WebDAV capabilities may be exposed through custom applications, legacy configurations, or cloud integration adapters outside of direct IT management control. This demands not just patching, but supplier risk assessment and contract review to ensure all dependencies receive prompt updates.

Looking Ahead: Evolving Threats and Security Best Practices​

The pattern observed in these new catalog entries is likely to persist, if not accelerate. Attackers will continue targeting remote code execution and arbitrary file manipulation bugs in widespread, business-critical software. Defensive success depends not just on timely patching, but on an evolving mindset that sees each KEV update as an opportunity to test—realistically and comprehensively—the organization’s ability to respond.

Best Practice Recommendations​

• Establish a standing process for daily review of the KEV catalog and immediate identification of at-risk assets.
• Enforce asset inventory synchronization with CMDB (Configuration Management Database) tools.
• Automate patch management wherever feasible, but supplement with intensive manual review for mission-critical or complex systems.
• Harden network perimeters and internal segmentation. Eliminate unnecessary service exposure, especially databases, security tooling, and file-sharing protocols.
• Run periodic tabletop exercises and “red team” simulations focused on KEV vulnerabilities to validate incident response.
• Monitor for vendor and CISA advisories; subscribe to direct feed alerts for maximum lead time on zero-day and actively exploited issues.
• Participate in vulnerability disclosure programs and encourage open dialogue with security researchers and suppliers alike.

Conclusion: A Call to Collective Action​

The addition of CVE-2025-24016 and CVE-2025-33053 to the CISA KEV catalog is not just a technical bulletin—it is a call to action. As attackers pivot rapidly between newly discovered and long-standing vulnerabilities, the pace at which defenders must operate continues to accelerate. While the KEV catalog and BOD 22-01 offer a pragmatic, evidence-driven framework for prioritization, the ultimate effectiveness depends on the collective, timely engagement of every stakeholder in the supply chain and the operational environment.
Federal agencies may be under mandate, but the private sector is equally at risk. Every organization must treat each KEV update as both a warning and an opportunity. The line between proactive resilience and reactive crisis management is drawn not at the moment of attack, but at the speed and thoroughness of remediation.
By staying abreast of CISA advisories, scrutinizing technical deployments like Wazuh and WebDAV, and continuously evolving vulnerability management disciplines, organizations can turn even the most severe known exploited vulnerabilities from an existential risk into a manageable challenge—and, ultimately, into a driver of stronger, more mature security postures for years to come.

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Source: CISA CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog | CISA