CVE-2018-25117Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Administrative credential theft via encoded installer callback

Published Oct 15, 2025 · Updated Oct 15, 2025

Embedded malicious code in the Vesta Control Panel installer allows remote attackers to steal administrative credentials during installation. Affected Ubuntu installer commits append the Base64-encoded admin password and server domain to codename, which is sent over HTTP to the Vesta notification endpoint. Exposure requires running an affected installer as root; observed outcomes include credential theft and Linux/ChachaDDoS activity.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Embedded malicious code in the Vesta Control Panel installer allows remote attackers to steal administrative credentials during installation. Affected Ubuntu installer commits append the Base64-encoded admin password and server domain to codename, which is sent over HTTP to the Vesta notification endpoint. Exposure requires running an affected installer as root; observed outcomes include credential theft and Linux/ChachaDDoS activity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2018-25117
Published
Oct 15, 2025
Updated
Oct 15, 2025
Vendor
Vesta Control Panel
Product
Vesta Control Panel
Classifications
CWE-506, CAPEC-442, T1195.002, T1498.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 24, 2018Exploitation reportedCompromised VestaCP servers used for DDoS attacks
  2. Oct 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Oct 15, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=commit a3f0fa1 (2018-05-31) <commit ee03eff (2018-06-13)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Vesta Control Panel · Vesta Control Panelversion=commit a3f0fa1 (2018-05-31) <commit ee03eff (2018-06-13)

Published CVSS scores

9.3VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-506Embedded Malicious Code
CAPEC-442Infected Software
T1195.002Compromise Software Supply Chain
T1498.001Direct Network Flood

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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