CVE-2024-56525Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

Site-admin escalation via unrestricted XML role import

Published Feb 24, 2025 · Updated Feb 25, 2025

Privilege escalation in PKP OJS, OMP, and OPS before 3.3.0.21 and 3.4.x before 3.4.0.8 allows remote authenticated users to gain site-admin access. The User XML import process accepts ROLE_ID_SITE_ADMIN for an account bound to a nonzero journal context instead of rejecting the site-admin role. Journal Editor access to the import tool is sufficient to create the privileged account and install a backdoor plugin, enabling server code execution.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in PKP OJS, OMP, and OPS before 3.3.0.21 and 3.4.x before 3.4.0.8 allows remote authenticated users to gain site-admin access. The User XML import process accepts ROLE_ID_SITE_ADMIN for an account bound to a nonzero journal context instead of rejecting the site-admin role. Journal Editor access to the import tool is sufficient to create the privileged account and install a backdoor plugin, enabling server code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-56525
Published
Feb 24, 2025
Updated
Feb 25, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-276, T1505.003, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 2024Exploitation reportedObserved User XML privilege escalation and backdoor installation
  2. Feb 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Feb 25, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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 exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1505.003Web Shell
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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