We’ve heard for decades that implementing enterprise-grade backup solutions are the foundation of data security. Commvault, a name synonymous with that promise, serves as a stark reminder: Complexity doesn't equal security. In actuality, it can foster a dangerous false sense of security—and that’s just what threat actors are hoping for.

Security Through Obscurity Is Dead

The recent critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-34028) in Commvault's Innovation Release isn’t just a bug. It's a symptom of a deeper malaise. The vulnerability, a pre-authenticated Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) in the deployWebpackage.do component, allowed attackers to remotely execute arbitrary code and gain full control. Think about that for a second. Full control. This isn’t a hypothetical danger, it’s an Achilles tendon-sized vulnerability in the entire edifice of enterprise data governance.

The notion that the complexity of enterprise systems magically dissuades would-be attackers is willfully ignorant at best and extremely dangerous at worst. It’s a bit like thinking your complicated padlock is invulnerable. Attackers can be compared to water, they will always find the cracks. Everyone likes to take the path of least resistance, it’s in human nature. In complex systems, however, that path often lays covered and unexplored, a gaping flaw patched in ignorance. To get full control, they intentionally targeted deployWebpackage.do, a more hidden but still seemingly harmless component.

Critical Infrastructure At Systemic Risk

This Commvault flaw isn't an isolated incident. It’s a microcosm of a bigger issue infecting critical infrastructure. We’ve witnessed the same vulnerabilities weaponized against energy grids, water treatment plants, and financial institutions. Each breach, each exploited vulnerability, is a domino in a chain, ready to be the one that takes down the whole house of cards.

The potential consequences are devastating. Now picture that same ransomware attack, but coordinated to attack every single Commvault installment over all their organizations. The outcome? Ubiquitous data loss, interruption of business operations, and in some cases, devastating impacts to public services. It's a scary thought, isn't it? What if this happened to hospitals? Banks? Power plants? The value of this goes beyond dollars and cents, it speaks to society’s capacity to thrive and prosper.

Backup systems are indeed the last line of defense. The fact that they have become prime targets should put that chill in your spine. Agnidipta Sarkar's (ColorTokens) recommendation for immediate and sustained mitigation, using tools like Xshield Gatekeeper, highlights the urgency of the situation. We need to be clear: we need action, and we need it now.

Why Did This Flaw Even Exist?

Let's be blunt. A vulnerability of this magnitude should not exist in a widely utilized, mature enterprise product like Commvault. It begs the question: What went wrong? Was it the absence of disciplined code review? Insufficient security testing? A culture that prioritized features over security?

The answer to the root cause is probably a combination of many things. Maybe dev teams were just being rushed to deliver on deadlines and sacrificing security along the way. Perhaps the security team didn’t have the budget, or clout to demand tighter coding practices. Or, better yet, there was more than a basic failure of conception that came to grips with the rapidly changing threat environment.

Whatever the cause, this defect highlights the urgent need for a paradigm shift in thinking. Security can no longer be an add-on feature, it needs to be baked in at each phase of the development lifecycle.

Embrace Zero Trust, Not Zero Hope

That old-school “castle-and-moat” security model, in which we consider everything behind the network perimeter a trusted environment, is over. We need to adopt a zero-trust posture—assuming that our systems have already been breached. This involves bringing in capabilities such as microsegmentation, continuous monitoring, multi-factor authentication and least privilege access controls.

  • Microsegmentation: Divide the network into smaller, isolated segments to limit the blast radius of an attack.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Constantly monitor network traffic and system logs for suspicious activity.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication: Require multiple forms of authentication to access sensitive data and systems.
  • Least Privilege Access Controls: Grant users only the minimum level of access they need to perform their jobs.

So even with these provisions on the table, we have to brace ourselves for the worst. No system is perfectly secure. That’s why we have to seek out new, creative solutions to add another level of security.

Blockchain's Untapped Potential

While not a panacea, blockchain technology does offer exciting possibilities. It represents a major opportunity to improve data security by focusing on the issues of data integrity and data immutability. Picture a backup system where every piece of data is recorded on a shared, immutable distributed ledger. Any unauthorized change would be instantly detectable, creating a rapid response capability through an early warning system to the threat of a cyberattack.

I’m NOT saying that we should put all enterprise data on a public blockchain. Private or permissioned blockchains could improve the security and resilience of such critical backups. Even better and more secure, when combined with cryptographic techniques they ensure data integrity. It’s an optimistic view of the future—which is exactly the right view to be taking.

Responsibility Over Regulation

Government regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), add to individual data security. They shouldn’t be seen as the full answer. Dependence on government mandates and regulations can lead to complacency and hinder creativity.

Ultimately, data security is a shared responsibility. To protect their data, organizations need to enforce stringent security practices, educate their workforce, and be aware of current attack vectors. People must be empowered to control the security of their own data. One, they need to be constantly on guard against phishing and other social engineering attacks.

The Commvault vulnerability should be considered a warning shot across the bow. Time to take down that house of cards and create a much more resilient and secure future for enterprise data. Stop wishing and waiting, and start adapting and planning ahead. Your business depends on it.