You are currently viewing Critical Security Alert! MongoDB RCE Flaw Could Allow Complete Server Control

Critical Security Alert! MongoDB RCE Flaw Could Allow Complete Server Control

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:2 mins read

A high-severity vulnerability has been identified and addressed in MongoDB, a popular open-source NoSQL database. This flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-14847, could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable servers, potentially leading to a complete server takeover.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the zlib implementation within MongoDB. A flaw in how MongoDB’s server handles zlib compression can lead to the return of uninitialized heap memory. This can be exploited on the client side by an attacker to inject and execute malicious code on the server.

Impact & Exploit Potential

The potential impact of this vulnerability is significant. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to:

  • Remote Code Execution: Execute arbitrary code on the MongoDB server.
  • Server Takeover: Gain complete control of the server, potentially compromising sensitive data and disrupting services.
  • Data Breach: Access and exfiltrate sensitive data stored in the MongoDB database.

Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)

The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with the following tactics and techniques:

  • TA0002 – Execution: Attackers can exploit the zlib flaw to execute arbitrary code on the MongoDB server.
  • T1203 – Exploitation for Client Execution: By exploiting the client-side zlib implementation, attackers can achieve code execution without needing valid credentials.

Affected Products

This flaw impacts the following MongoDB versions:

  • MongoDB 8.2.0 through 8.2.2
  • MongoDB 8.0.0 through 8.0.16
  • MongoDB 7.0.0 through 7.0.27
  • MongoDB 6.0.0 through 6.0.26
  • MongoDB 5.0.0 through 5.0.31
  • MongoDB 4.4.0 through 4.4.29
  • All MongoDB Server v4.2 versions
  • All MongoDB Server v4.0 versions
  • All MongoDB Server v3.6 versions

Mitigation & Recommendations

To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2025-14847, the following actions are strongly recommended:

  • Upgrade Immediately: Upgrade to one of the fixed versions: 8.2.3, 8.0.17, 7.0.28, 6.0.27, 5.0.32, and 4.4.30.
  • Disable zlib Compression: If an immediate upgrade is not possible, disable zlib compression on the MongoDB server. This can be done by starting mongod or mongos with a networkMessageCompressors or a net.compression.compressors option that explicitly omits zlib. Example safe values include snappy, zstd, or disabled.

Instantly Fix Risks with Saner Patch Management

Saner patch management is a continuous, automated, and integrated software that instantly fixes risks exploited in the wild. The software supports major operating systems like Windows, Linux, and macOS, as well as 550+ third-party applications.

It also allows you to set up a safe testing area to test patches before deploying them in a primary production environment. Saner patch management additionally supports a patch rollback feature in case of patch failure or a system malfunction.

Experience the fastest and most accurate patching software here.