Critical Vulnerability in Commvault Command Center: What You Need to Know

In a world where data security is paramount, backup and replication solutions are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals due to their essential role in safeguarding critical business data. Recently, a serious vulnerability was discovered in Commvault Command Center, which could allow attackers to gain full control of the system, putting both personal and corporate data at risk.

On April 24, security firm watchTowr published a detailed report highlighting a critical path traversal vulnerability in Commvault’s Command Center Innovation Release version 11.38 for both Linux and Windows platforms. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-34028, allows unauthenticated attackers to upload ZIP files, leading to remote code execution (RCE) and the potential compromise of the entire Command Center environment. With a CVSS score of 10.0, this flaw is classified as highly severe.

Commvault has already released a patch to address the vulnerability, urging users to upgrade to version 11.38.20 or higher. If updating is not an option, users are advised to isolate their Command Center from external networks to mitigate risk.

the Vulnerability

A severe flaw has been found in the Commvault Command Center Innovation Release version 11.38, a key platform for managing Commvault’s data protection services. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-34028, allows unauthenticated attackers to upload ZIP files containing malicious code, enabling remote code execution (RCE). This can lead to the complete compromise of the system. The vulnerability was discovered by watchTowr on April 7, and the company notified Commvault immediately. In response, Commvault released a patch for versions 11.38.20 and above, advising customers to apply it as soon as possible.

The flaw is due to improper pathname limitations, a common path traversal vulnerability. If exploited, an attacker could bypass security restrictions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive parts of the system. To prevent exploitation, customers who cannot update their systems are urged to isolate the Command Center from external networks, minimizing exposure to potential threats.

This vulnerability highlights a growing trend: cybercriminals are increasingly targeting backup and replication solutions like Commvault, Veeam, and NAKIVO. These systems are vital for data protection, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to control or exfiltrate critical data.

What Undercode Say:

The discovery of this vulnerability in Commvault Command Center isn’t just a wake-up call for the company’s users, but also a broader warning about the importance of securing backup and data replication systems. As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, it’s clear that data management platforms are becoming increasingly valuable targets. These systems not only store essential data but are also responsible for replicating and backing up information across networks. This makes them a crucial entry point for attackers looking to disrupt businesses or steal valuable information.

The path traversal vulnerability in Commvault illustrates a significant issue: many web-based management interfaces fail to properly secure file paths and directories, leaving them open to exploitation. Path traversal flaws allow attackers to manipulate the system’s file structure, often gaining access to sensitive data or allowing for the upload of malicious payloads. In this case, the vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise via remote code execution. Such access can have far-reaching consequences, potentially allowing hackers to install ransomware, exfiltrate data, or even cause operational disruption.

Commvault’s swift response, releasing a patch and advising users to update their systems or limit exposure, shows that the company takes the threat seriously. However, the fact that this vulnerability was discovered at all points to a larger problem in the industry: many backup solutions still rely on outdated security protocols, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. Given that backup solutions are often not as closely monitored as other enterprise systems, they can become weak points in a company’s overall cybersecurity infrastructure.

The increasing targeting of backup and replication solutions, as seen with recent breaches involving Veeam and NAKIVO, suggests that attackers are becoming more strategic in their choice of targets. These systems, integral to data recovery, are now being seen as high-value assets by threat actors. Compromising them can grant unauthorized access to sensitive data or even allow attackers to control the entire network infrastructure. Organizations must prioritize securing these systems and ensure that they are regularly updated to avoid falling victim to these types of attacks.

The growing threat landscape around backup and data management systems highlights the need for comprehensive security measures across all layers of enterprise IT infrastructure. Organizations should consider implementing robust access controls, continuous monitoring, and proactive patching strategies to defend against these increasingly sophisticated attacks.

Fact Checker Results:

CVE Identification: CVE-2025-34028 is correctly assigned to the vulnerability in Commvault Command Center version 11.38.
Patch Release: Commvault released a fix for this vulnerability on April 10, 2025.
Security Impact: The vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 10.0, is indeed classified as critical and could lead to remote code execution and system compromise.