Actively exploited vulnerability
Sitecore products: code execution flaw under attack
CVE-2025-53690 · Sitecore Multiple Products Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
What is affected
Sitecore products are found on ordinary personal computers and phones, so this is not only a problem for companies. If you use them and have not updated since the fix was released, you are exposed.
Sitecore Experience Manager (XM), Experience Platform (XP), Experience Commerce (XC), and Managed Cloud contain a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability involving the use of default machine keys. This flaw allows attackers to exploit exposed ASP.NET machine keys to achieve remote code execution.
What an attacker can do
This is a code execution flaw. It lets an attacker run their own commands or programs on the affected system. In practice that usually means taking it over: installing malware, stealing data or using it to reach other devices on the same network.
- How it is reached
- Over the internet or network
- Access the attacker needs
- No account needed
- Does the victim have to do something?
- No, works without the victim doing anything
What to do
- Update Sitecore products now. Open the update or "About" screen, install whatever is offered and restart the app or device, because the fix is not active until you do.
- Turn on automatic updates so the next fix arrives without you having to look for it.
- If your device is too old to receive this update, stop using the affected app for anything sensitive and plan a replacement.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Vendor advisories and fixes
- support.sitecore.comsupport.sitecore.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB1003865
How urgent is it
CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on September 4, 2025, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by September 25, 2025, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.
The EPSS model estimates a 51% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 99% of all scored vulnerabilities.
Its CVSS severity score is 9.0 out of 10 (critical), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.
Technical description
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Sitecore Experience Manager (XM), Sitecore Experience Platform (XP) allows Code Injection.This issue affects Experience Manager (XM): through 9.0; Experience Platform (XP): through 9.0.