CVE-2025-48828Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Pre-auth code execution via template conditional bypass

Published May 27, 2025 · Updated May 27, 2025

Code injection in vBulletin 6.0.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code through crafted template conditionals. The protected vB_Api_Ad::replaceAdTemplate method stores attacker-controlled template text, while alternate quoted function syntax bypasses the template engine's checks. Public AJAX routing on PHP 8.1 or later requires no authentication, and successful code runs with the web server user's privileges.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability57.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in vBulletin 6.0.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code through crafted template conditionals. The protected vB_Api_Ad::replaceAdTemplate method stores attacker-controlled template text, while alternate quoted function syntax bypasses the template engine's checks. Public AJAX routing on PHP 8.1 or later requires no authentication, and successful code runs with the web server user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-48828
Published
May 27, 2025
Updated
May 27, 2025
Vendor
vBulletin
Product
vBulletin
Classifications
CWE-424, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 27, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 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=6.0.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

vBulletin · vBulletinversion=6.0.3

Published CVSS scores

9.0MITRE CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-424Improper Protection of Alternate Path
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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