CVE-2025-54389
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2025-54389 is an improper output neutralization vulnerability in AIDE (Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment) that allows local attackers to hide malicious file modifications from detection reports. By crafting filenames with terminal escape sequences, attackers can bypass AIDE's integrity monitoring and tamper with log output. This affects all AIDE users running versions prior to 0.19.2.
💻 Affected Systems
- AIDE (Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment)
📦 What is this software?
Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment by Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment Project
View all CVEs affecting Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker with local access could hide persistent malware, backdoors, or configuration changes from security monitoring, enabling long-term undetected compromise of critical systems.
Likely Case
Local users with malicious intent could hide unauthorized file modifications or additions from security audits and integrity checks, potentially bypassing security controls.
If Mitigated
With proper output redirection to regular files or patched versions, the vulnerability is neutralized and AIDE functions normally with accurate reporting.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and knowledge of terminal escape sequences. The attacker needs to create or modify files with specially crafted names.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 0.19.2
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/aide/aide/security/advisories/GHSA-522j-vvx9-gg28
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Backup current AIDE database and configuration. 2. Download AIDE 0.19.2 from official repository. 3. Compile and install following standard procedures for your distribution. 4. Reinitialize AIDE database with 'aide --init'. 5. Move new database to production location and run regular checks.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Redirect output to regular files
allConfigure AIDE to write reports and logs to regular files instead of terminal output, preventing escape sequence interpretation.
aide --check > /var/log/aide/report.txt 2>&1
aide --check 2> /var/log/aide/error.log
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and monitor for suspicious file creation
- Use alternative integrity monitoring tools alongside AIDE for defense in depth
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Run 'aide --version' and check if version is below 0.19.2. Also verify if AIDE output is being displayed to terminal.Check Version:
aide --versionVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, run 'aide --version' to confirm version 0.19.2 or higher. Test by creating a file with escape sequences and verifying it appears correctly in reports.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual or truncated AIDE reports
- Missing expected file changes in AIDE output
- Files with unusual characters in names appearing in system logs
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Search for AIDE process executions with unusual parameters or AIDE reports showing unexpected empty or truncated results.🔗 References
- https://github.com/aide/aide/commit/64c8f32b0349c33fb8382784af468338078851f9
- https://github.com/aide/aide/releases/tag/v0.19.2
- https://github.com/aide/aide/security/advisories/GHSA-522j-vvx9-gg28
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/08/14/7
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/08/msg00011.html
- https://github.com/aide/aide/security/advisories/GHSA-522j-vvx9-gg28
