Overview
The CVE-2025-48703 is a serious cybersecurity vulnerability that affects CWP (Control Web Panel) versions prior to 0.9.8.1205. The vulnerability allows for unauthenticated remote code execution via shell metacharacters in the t_total parameter in a filemanager changePerm request. This vulnerability is particularly significant as it allows potential attackers to compromise the system or cause data leakage, even without requiring root privileges. While the issue has been addressed in later versions, systems running older versions of CWP are still at risk, necessitating immediate action for mitigation.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-48703
Severity: Critical, CVSS Score 9.0
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low (Non-root user)
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
CWP (Control Web Panel) | Prior to 0.9.8.1205
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the t_total parameter in a filemanager changePerm request. By injecting shell metacharacters into this parameter, an attacker can execute arbitrary code on the server without needing to authenticate. This is made possible because the server doesn’t properly sanitize the inputs, allowing the shell metacharacters to be interpreted as commands. As it doesn’t require root privileges, any valid non-root username can be used to exploit this vulnerability.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a hypothetical example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. This is a simplified conceptual example, and actual attacks may be more complex.
POST /filemanager/changePerm HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "username": "validuser", "t_total": "1; rm -rf /" }In this example, the t_total parameter contains a payload `1; rm -rf /`, where `1` is a legitimate value, followed by a semicolon, which in shell syntax denotes the end of a command and the beginning of a new one. The `rm -rf /` command is a destructive Unix command that deletes all files and directories from the root directory. This command would run with the privileges of the user specified in the username parameter.
Mitigation
Users are urged to update to the latest version of CWP, which has patched this vulnerability. For those who cannot immediately update, deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. These systems can be configured to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability, but they are not a long-term solution. The only definitive solution is to update the software to a version where the vulnerability has been fixed.
