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In a recent warning, the threat intelligence firm GreyNoise has highlighted a significant uptick in the exploitation of Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerabilities across a range of platforms. According to the company, at least 400 unique IP addresses have been observed simultaneously targeting multiple SSRF vulnerabilities. These attack attempts have shown notable overlap, which could point to structured, automated exploitation or intelligence-gathering efforts. The surge was first observed on March 9, 2025, with additional activity reported through March 11. This article breaks down the situation, providing critical details on the ongoing threats, the affected systems, and key mitigation strategies.
Rising Global Threat: Countries Targeted and Vulnerabilities Exploited
GreyNoise’s latest report reveals that the exploitation attempts are not confined to a single region. The countries currently targeted by attackers include the United States, Germany, Singapore, India, Lithuania, Japan, and Israel, with a notable surge in activity in Israel as of March 11, 2025.
The vulnerabilities being actively exploited are spread across several platforms, each with varying degrees of severity, as indicated by their CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) scores. These include:
– CVE-2017-0929 (CVSS score: 7.5) – DotNetNuke
- CVE-2020-7796 (CVSS score: 9.8) – Zimbra Collaboration Suite
– CVE-2021-21973 (CVSS score: 5.3) – VMware vCenter
- CVE-2021-22054 (CVSS score: 7.5) – VMware Workspace ONE UEM
– CVE-2021-22175 (CVSS score: 9.8) – GitLab CE/EE
– CVE-2021-22214 (CVSS score: 8.6) – GitLab CE/EE
– CVE-2021-39935 (CVSS score: 7.5) – GitLab CE/EE
– CVE-2023-5830 (CVSS score: 9.8) – ColumbiaSoft DocumentLocator
– CVE-2024-6587 (CVSS score: 7.5) – BerriAI LiteLLM
- CVE-2024-21893 (CVSS score: 8.2) – Ivanti Connect Secure
– OpenBMCS 2.4 Authenticated SSRF Attempt (No CVE)
– Zimbra Collaboration Suite SSRF Attempt (No CVE)
Many of the observed attack attempts show that the same IPs are exploiting multiple vulnerabilities at the same time. This suggests that the attackers may be leveraging automated tools or pre-compromised intelligence in a coordinated manner, rather than focusing on a single exploit.
Rising Threat and Its Impact
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) is a vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate a server to make requests on behalf of the attacker. This is especially dangerous because SSRF can be used to target internal resources that are typically hidden behind firewalls. If exploited, attackers can map internal networks, locate vulnerable services, and potentially steal sensitive information, such as cloud credentials.
For modern cloud environments, this can have severe consequences. Many cloud services rely on internal metadata APIs that can be accessed via SSRF, allowing attackers to gather critical information about cloud resources. This makes it even more important for organizations to act quickly and mitigate these threats.
What Undercode Says:
The increasing frequency and scope of SSRF vulnerabilities being exploited indicate that cybercriminals are becoming more adept at targeting weak points across various platforms. The simultaneous targeting of multiple SSRF CVEs by a single set of IP addresses suggests a high level of organization, likely with automated exploitation tools or pre-existing intelligence. This pattern points to a shift in the approach of cybercriminals, where instead of relying on opportunistic attacks, they are now conducting highly structured and deliberate campaigns.
Furthermore, the impact of SSRF vulnerabilities is compounded by their potential to compromise cloud environments. As more businesses move to cloud infrastructure, the risk posed by SSRF grows. Attackers could use SSRF to gain access to metadata, which can include sensitive data like cloud API keys and internal network configurations. The exploitation of these weaknesses could lead to more severe breaches, resulting in significant financial and reputational damage.
While some of the targeted systems have been patched, the exploitation continues, suggesting that many organizations are either unaware of these vulnerabilities or have failed to apply the necessary security updates. This highlights the need for greater vigilance in maintaining up-to-date security practices, such as regularly applying patches, restricting outbound connections, and monitoring for suspicious network activity.
Organizations should take immediate steps to defend against these types of attacks. This includes reviewing the list of affected CVEs, ensuring all systems are patched, and strengthening their overall security posture. Monitoring tools should be configured to detect unusual outbound traffic that might signal an SSRF exploitation attempt. Additionally, implementing access controls to limit unnecessary communication between internal and external systems can help reduce the attack surface.
Fact Checker Results:
- GreyNoise’s report is credible, with accurate details about the countries and platforms affected by SSRF attacks.
- The vulnerability list corresponds with known exploits and recent cybersecurity trends.
- The analysis provided by GreyNoise aligns with the known tactics of cybercriminals utilizing SSRF for broader cloud attacks.
References:
Reported By: https://thehackernews.com/2025/03/over-400-ips-exploiting-multiple-ssrf.html
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