Overview
CVE-2025-48827 is a severe vulnerability that affects versions 5.0.0 through 5.7.5 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.3 of the vBulletin software. This vulnerability is critical because it allows unauthenticated users to invoke protected API controllers’ methods when the software is running on PHP 8.1 or later. This can potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage. The exploit has been observed in the wild since May 2025, which indicates that cybercriminals are actively exploiting it.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-48827
Severity: Critical (CVSS 10.0)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
vBulletin | 5.0.0 through 5.7.5
vBulletin | 6.0.0 through 6.0.3
How the Exploit Works
This exploit takes advantage of the fact that vBulletin, when running on PHP 8.1 or later, does not properly authenticate users before allowing them to invoke protected API controllers’ methods. This is achieved by sending a crafted HTTP request to the endpoint `/api.php?method=protectedMethod`. An attacker can use this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands or access sensitive data, leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
GET /api.php?method=protectedMethod HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.comIn this example, an attacker sends a GET request to the target’s `/api.php` endpoint with the query string `method=protectedMethod`, attempting to invoke a protected method without authentication.
Mitigation Guidance
The best way to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. Until then, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. These systems can be configured to block or alert on suspicious requests to the `/api.php` endpoint, thereby preventing exploitation of this vulnerability.
As always, following basic security best practices, such as regularly updating and patching software, can greatly reduce the risk of exploitation. Also, consider limiting exposure of the vBulletin installation to the internet or implementing additional access controls as an extra layer of protection.