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Introduction:
A critical vulnerability in SAP’s NetWeaver Visual Composer platform has sparked a new wave of cyberattacks from some of the world’s most dangerous ransomware groups. What began as isolated exploitation attempts has escalated into a coordinated effort involving state-sponsored hackers and notorious ransomware gangs like RansomEXX and BianLian. This vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-31324, allows unauthenticated attackers to remotely upload malicious files and take full control of unpatched systems. As companies and government entities scramble to patch affected servers, cybersecurity analysts warn this flaw could have serious geopolitical and economic implications if left unresolved.
Threat Overview:
A major security flaw in SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer is being actively exploited by ransomware operators and nation-state actors. The flaw, CVE-2025-31324, allows remote code execution without authentication, making it a prime target for hackers. SAP issued emergency patches on April 24, but not before threat actors began exploiting it in real-world attacks.
ReliaQuest was the first to flag the issue being used in the wild, and their latest analysis reveals that the RansomEXX and BianLian ransomware groups have joined the campaign. Although no ransomware payloads have been confirmed as deployed, attackers used tools like PipeMagic and Brute Ratel to lay the groundwork for future compromise. RansomEXX also leveraged another Windows vulnerability (CVE-2025-29824) during their attempts.
Evidence shows that BianLian was involved in at least one confirmed incident, identified through a C2 server IP address previously associated with the group. Chinese advanced persistent threat (APT) groups have also entered the scene. Forescout linked the activity to Chaya_004, while EclecticIQ named three additional Chinese APTs—UNC5221, UNC5174, and CL-STA-0048—as participants.
Shockingly, attackers have already backdoored over 580 SAP NetWeaver instances, including those within critical infrastructure in the UK, US, and Saudi Arabia. Up to 1,800 more targets may soon face compromise. These backdoors offer potential access for long-term espionage and sabotage, posing significant risks to industrial control systems and internal enterprise networks.
SAP has also patched a secondary vulnerability (CVE-2025-42999), exploited as early as March. Admins are advised to apply patches immediately, disable the Visual Composer service if necessary, limit access to metadata uploaders, and monitor for suspicious server activity.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has labeled CVE-2025-31324 as a known exploited vulnerability, mandating all U.S. federal agencies to patch their systems by May 20.
What Undercode Say:
The ongoing exploitation of SAP NetWeaver platforms highlights a disturbing trend: sophisticated threat actors are increasingly combining zero-day vulnerabilities with modular attack frameworks and strategic coordination. This isn’t just opportunistic cybercrime — it’s a multidimensional threat combining ransomware economics with geopolitical espionage.
What makes CVE-2025-31324 especially dangerous is the lack of authentication needed for attackers to upload malicious files. The result is an open door to high-value enterprise and governmental systems. The use of known ransomware actors like RansomEXX and BianLian signals a shift where these groups are becoming more agile and aligned with broader threat landscapes, working in tandem with APTs rather than acting alone.
From a technical standpoint, the attack sequence demonstrates evolving methods. Initial access through helper.jsp and cache.jsp webshells, followed by Brute Ratel deployment via inline MSBuild, shows a hybrid of penetration testing tools and custom backdoors designed to evade detection. This layered approach makes traditional defenses like antivirus or firewall rules largely ineffective unless paired with advanced threat monitoring.
The confirmed presence of Chinese APTs, such as Chaya_004 and others, underlines the strategic value of SAP environments. With more than 580 systems backdoored and another 1,800 in the crosshairs, this campaign is clearly designed for long-term access. Whether the goal is data theft, sabotage, or cyberespionage, the attackers have ensured persistence and lateral movement across critical networks.
On the defense side, SAP’s rapid patch rollout was commendable, but it may be too late for many. The attackers are already inside. Admins must go beyond patching — they need forensic analysis, network segmentation, and persistent threat hunting to detect covert lateral movement.
Governments and major industries must consider how these exploits relate to national security. As industrial control systems become more interconnected with IT environments, a single SAP vulnerability can have ripple effects across sectors like energy, defense, and healthcare. The exploitation of these systems by ransomware gangs and nation-state actors blurs the line between cybercrime and cyberwarfare.
In essence, this isn’t just a vulnerability issue.
Fact Checker Results:
✅ Confirmed exploitation of CVE-2025-31324 in the wild
🔎 Active involvement of ransomware groups RansomEXX and BianLian verified
🌍 581 SAP instances confirmed backdoored, with future targets identified
Prediction:
If current trends continue, expect an increase in ransomware campaigns using SAP as a pivot point into broader enterprise systems. Chinese APTs will likely expand their presence for espionage purposes, while ransomware gangs may soon shift from reconnaissance to full-blown extortion. Enterprises that delay patching or lack advanced monitoring tools will remain prime targets, with potential for major service disruptions in critical sectors by mid-2025.
References:
Reported By: www.bleepingcomputer.com
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