In the fast-paced world of cybersecurity, vulnerabilities in widely used software can spell disaster for organizations handling sensitive data. Just days ago, on September 22, 2025, Fortra announced patches for a critical deserialization vulnerability in its GoAnywhere managed file transfer (MFT) solution, tracked as CVE-2025-10035 with a perfect CVSS score of 10. This flaw, which could enable unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE), echoes past exploits of the platform and underscores the ongoing risks in secure file sharing tools. With GoAnywhere used by enterprises for transferring confidential files, this development demands immediate attention from admins and security teams. In this post, we'll break down the vulnerability, its potential impacts, and steps to mitigate it—drawing lessons from history to prevent future breaches.
Unpacking the Vulnerability: CVE-2025-10035 Explained
The issue stems from a deserialization of untrusted data flaw in GoAnywhere's license servlet, allowing an attacker with a forged license response signature to deserialize arbitrary objects, potentially leading to command injection. As Fortra's advisory notes, this could be exploited by "an actor with a validly forged license response signature to deserialize an arbitrary actor-controlled object, possibly leading to command injection." Critically, the vulnerability permits unauthenticated access, meaning no credentials are needed to initiate an attack—lowering the barrier for cybercriminals.
Technical specifics highlight the severity: The bug affects the license management component, where untrusted input isn't properly sanitized, opening the door to RCE on vulnerable instances. While exploitation heavily depends on the system being exposed to the internet, as Fortra emphasizes—"Exploitation of this vulnerability is highly dependent upon systems being externally exposed to the internet"—the risk remains high for misconfigured setups.
This isn't GoAnywhere's first rodeo. Back in 2023, a zero-day (CVE-2023-0669) was weaponized by the Cl0p ransomware group, resulting in data theft from numerous organizations. That incident amplified scrutiny on file transfer tools, and this new flaw revives those concerns.
Potential Impacts: From Data Breaches to Operational Chaos
If exploited, CVE-2025-10035 could grant attackers full remote control over affected servers, enabling data exfiltration, ransomware deployment, or further network pivoting. For industries like finance, healthcare, and government—where GoAnywhere is popular for compliant file transfers—the fallout could include regulatory violations, financial losses, and reputational damage.
As of now, Fortra reports no evidence of in-the-wild exploitation, and security firm Rapid7 hasn't spotted public exploit code. However, Rapid7 warns: "given the nature and history of this product, this new vulnerability should be treated as a significant threat." With a CVSS of 10, it's a prime candidate for rapid weaponization, especially as threat actors scan for exposed instances.
Broader context from recent cybersecurity trends amplifies this: File transfer vulnerabilities have been hot targets, with similar issues in products like MOVEit leading to massive breaches. Organizations using MFT solutions must view this as part of a pattern, not an isolated event.
Mitigation Strategies: Act Fast to Secure Your Setup
Fortra has rolled out fixes in GoAnywhere MFT version 7.8.4 and GoAnywhere MFT Sustain version 7.6.3. Admins should prioritize updating immediately, but that's just the start. Here's a roadmap to bolster defenses:
- Patch Promptly: Apply the latest versions without delay. Test in a staging environment if possible to avoid disruptions.
- Restrict Access: Ensure the GoAnywhere Admin Console isn't publicly accessible. Use firewalls, VPNs, or IP whitelisting to limit exposure.
- Monitor Logs: Scrutinize Admin Audit logs for anomalies. Look specifically for errors containing the string "SignedObject.getObject:" in exception stack traces, as this could indicate attempted exploitation.
- Enhance Detection: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to catch unusual behavior, like unauthorized command execution. Integrate threat intelligence feeds for early warnings on emerging exploits.
- Conduct Audits: Regularly scan for internet-exposed services and review configurations. Tools like Shodan can help identify vulnerable instances before attackers do.
For organizations still recovering from past MFT incidents, this patch serves as a reminder to adopt zero-trust principles, where even internal tools are treated with suspicion.
Looking Ahead: Lessons for a Safer Digital Ecosystem
The swift patching of CVE-2025-10035 is a positive step, but it highlights the perpetual arms race in cybersecurity. As file transfer solutions evolve, so do the threats targeting them—driven by the lucrative data they handle. By staying vigilant and proactive, enterprises can minimize risks and build resilience.
If your organization uses GoAnywhere or similar MFT tools, don't wait—patch now and review your exposure. In cybersecurity, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Stay tuned for more updates as the threat landscape unfolds.