CVE-2023-25168Network attack vector

Host file deletion via unresolved directory symlinks

Published Feb 8, 2023 · Updated Mar 10, 2025

Symlink following in Pterodactyl Wings before 1.7.4 and 1.11.0 through 1.11.3 allows remote authenticated users to delete host files. The Filesystem.Delete method passes a user-supplied path to os.RemoveAll without resolving intermediate directory symlinks and verifying that the target remains in the server data directory. Exploitation requires control of an existing Wings-managed server; recursive deletion can affect files and directories outside that server's assigned root.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in Pterodactyl Wings before 1.7.4 and 1.11.0 through 1.11.3 allows remote authenticated users to delete host files. The Filesystem.Delete method passes a user-supplied path to os.RemoveAll without resolving intermediate directory symlinks and verifying that the target remains in the server data directory. Exploitation requires control of an existing Wings-managed server; recursive deletion can affect files and directories outside that server's assigned root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-25168
Published
Feb 8, 2023
Updated
Mar 10, 2025
Vendor
Pterodactyl
Product
Wings
Classifications
CWE-59, T1485
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 10, 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=>= 1.11.0, < 1.11.4
  2. Affected versionversion=< 1.7.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Pterodactyl · Wingsversion=>= 1.11.0, < 1.11.4; version=< 1.7.4

Published CVSS scores

8.2GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1485Data Destruction

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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