Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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ReconIdentify exposed Apex One console
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DeliverySend crafted upload HTTP request
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ExploitTraverse path to writable executable directory
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InstallDrop malicious payload on server
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C2Trigger payload via console handler
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ExecuteExecute commands as console service
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ImpactPivot to managed endpoints via policy
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires network reachability to the on-premises Trend Micro Apex One management console's HTTP(S) interface and the ability to send an upload request to the specific vulnerable console executable (the unnamed sibling of the one in CVE-2025-71210). Per the vendor, only on-premises Apex One 2019 (14.0) builds prior to 14.0.0.14136 are vulnerable - Apex One as a Service (<14.0.20315) has already been patched by Trend Micro and customers cannot exploit or be exploited there. The CVSS vector advertises PR:N (no authentication) and UI:N (no user interaction), but the vendor explicitly notes that the attacker must have access to the management console, so deployments that restrict console access to a management VLAN or VPN are effectively shielded; exposure of the console's IP to the internet is the dominant aggravating factor. |
| Impact | The CVSS:3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/C:H/I:H/A:H) describes a network-reachable, low-complexity, unauthenticated path to full compromise, which on paper is a top-priority bug. However, the vendor advisory and CVE description explicitly state that the attacker must first have access to the Apex One management console - a contradiction with PR:N that materially limits real-world risk for organizations that do not expose the console to the internet. EPSS data was not provided and CISA KEV does not list this CVE, so exploitation probability cannot be quantitatively assessed; it should be treated as not currently known to be exploited in the wild. Net assessment: critical for any deployment with an internet-exposed or broadly reachable management console, materially lower for environments where console access is restricted to administrative networks. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who can reach the Apex One management console - for example, because the console's IP is exposed to the internet or accessible from a compromised internal host - sends a crafted HTTP upload request to the vulnerable console executable, using directory traversal sequences to drop a malicious file into a directory that the web server or service will execute. The resulting code runs in the context of the management console process, giving the attacker control over policy distribution and, by extension, the ability to push malicious configurations or payloads to managed endpoints. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, though ZDI possesses a private POC from the responsible disclosure. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – May 21, 2026
Remote code execution in the Trend Micro Apex One management console allows attackers with console access to upload malicious files via a path traversal flaw (CWE-22) and execute arbitrary commands on the server. The on-premises product (versions before 14.0.0.14136) is affected, while SaaS deployments have already been remediated by the vendor. No public exploit identified at time of analysis; the issue was responsibly disclosed through the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI-26-137).
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patch: upgrade on-premises Apex One 2019 (14.0) to build 14.0.0.14136 or later as described in Trend Micro solution KA-0022458 (https://success.trendmicro.com/en-US/solution/KA-0022458); Apex One as a Service has already been updated to 14.0.20315 and requires no customer action. Until the on-premises patch can be applied, restrict the management console's exposure: place the console behind a VPN or jump host, apply source-IP allowlists at the firewall or reverse proxy to limit access to known administrator networks, and remove any direct internet exposure of the console interface. These network restrictions may impact remote administration workflows and any agent-to-server flows that share the same listener, so validate that endpoint check-in still functions after applying ACLs. Additional context is available in the ZDI advisory at https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-137/.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 2 packages in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
Trend Micro Apex One is an endpoint protection platform; its on-premises management console is a web-based administrative interface used to centrally configure and deploy security policies to managed endpoints. The underlying weakness is CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, i.e., Path Traversal), which here permits an attacker to escape the intended upload directory and write attacker-controlled files to executable locations on the host. The vulnerability is sibling to CVE-2025-71210, differing only in the specific console executable handling the upload, indicating a class of input-validation defects in the console's file-handling components. Affected CPEs cover both trendai_apex_one and trendai_apex_one_as_a_service, though the SaaS variant has been patched server-side.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from Vendor (trendmicro) · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorVendor: trendmicro
Lifecycle Timeline
1DescriptionCVE.org
A vulnerability in the Trend Micro Apex One management console could allow a remote attacker to upload malicious code and execute commands on affected installations. This vulnerability is similar in scope to CVE-2025-71210 but affects a different executable.
Please note: although this vulnerability carries a technical critical CVSS rating, this was reported via responsible disclosure via a researcher through the Zero Day Initiative. The SaaS versions of the product have already been mitigated and no customer action required.
For this particular vulnerability, an attacker must have access to the Trend Micro Apex One Management Console, so customers that have their console�s IP address exposed externally should consider mitigating factors such as source restrictions if not already applied.
Executive ViewAI
Trend Micro Apex One on-premises management console contains a critical remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2025-71211, CVSS 9.8) that allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands and potentially compromise the entire security infrastructure. No public exploit identified at time of analysis. On-premises customers running versions before 14.0.0.14136 face immediate risk, while SaaS deployments have already been remediated.
Apply vendor patch: Trend Micro Apex One 14.0.0.14136 or later
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
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