CVE-2025-14763
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Amazon S3 Encryption Client for Java allows users with write access to an S3 bucket to manipulate encrypted data keys stored in instruction files, potentially causing decryption to produce different plaintext than originally encrypted. It affects Java applications using the S3 Encryption Client with instruction file mode. The issue stems from missing cryptographic key commitment.
💻 Affected Systems
- Amazon S3 Encryption Client for Java
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Data integrity compromise where malicious actors with bucket write access could substitute encrypted data to decrypt to different content, potentially enabling data manipulation attacks or supply chain compromises.
Likely Case
Accidental or malicious data corruption where users with legitimate write permissions inadvertently or intentionally modify instruction files, causing decryption failures or unexpected plaintext.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if proper access controls limit bucket write permissions to trusted entities only and monitoring detects unusual instruction file modifications.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires write access to the S3 bucket and knowledge of the specific instruction file structure. No public exploits have been documented.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.0.0
Vendor Advisory: https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/AWS-2025-032/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Maven/Gradle dependency to use 'software.amazon.awssdk:s3:4.0.0' or later. 2. Rebuild and redeploy your Java application. 3. Restart any running services using the client.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Switch to metadata mode
allConfigure the S3 Encryption Client to store encrypted data keys in S3 object metadata instead of instruction files.
AmazonS3EncryptionV2Builder.withCryptoConfiguration(CryptoConfigurationV2.builder().cryptoMode(CryptoMode.StrictAuthenticatedEncryption).build())
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict IAM policies to limit S3 bucket write access to only essential users and services.
- Enable S3 server access logging and monitor for unusual instruction file modifications or write patterns.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check your project's dependency configuration (pom.xml or build.gradle) for 'software.amazon.awssdk:s3' version below 4.0.0.Check Version:
mvn dependency:tree | grep 'software.amazon.awssdk:s3' OR gradle dependencies | grep 'software.amazon.awssdk:s3'Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm the dependency version is 4.0.0 or higher and verify the application successfully encrypts/decrypts using the updated client.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Increased errors during S3 decryption operations
- Log entries indicating instruction file access failures
Network Indicators:
- Unusual S3 PutObject requests targeting instruction files
- Patterns of multiple instruction file modifications in short timeframes
SIEM Query:
source="aws:s3" eventName="PutObject" requestParameters.key LIKE "*.instruction" | stats count by userIdentity.arn