CVE-2025-63261Public exploit

Arbitrary command execution via unsafe Perl open

Published Mar 20, 2026 · Updated Mar 20, 2026

Command injection in AWStats 8.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary commands through a crafted DNS cache filename. The Read_DNS_Cache function passes a DNSLastUpdateCacheFile-derived path to Perl's two-argument open, so enclosing pipe characters invoke a command. Exploitation requires write access to awstats.conf and the data directory, DNSLookup enabled, and a later AWStats update under a more privileged account.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.05%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in AWStats 8.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary commands through a crafted DNS cache filename. The Read_DNS_Cache function passes a DNSLastUpdateCacheFile-derived path to Perl's two-argument open, so enclosing pipe characters invoke a command. Exploitation requires write access to awstats.conf and the data directory, DNSLookup enabled, and a later AWStats update under a more privileged account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-63261
Published
Mar 20, 2026
Updated
Mar 20, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 20, 2026Record 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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