CVE-2025-49113
About
Roundcube Webmail before 1.5.10 and 1.6.x before 1.6.11 allows remote code execution by authenticated users because the _from parameter in a URL is not validated in program/actions/settings/upload.php, leading to PHP Object Deserialization.
Rainforest analyst review
Roundcube Webmail fails to validate the _from parameter in program/actions/settings/upload.php, and that unvalidated value flows into PHP object deserialization. An authenticated user, any mailbox account, can craft the parameter to instantiate arbitrary PHP objects and trigger a gadget chain that runs code on the server. The bar is low: valid credentials plus one request, and this is a decade-old bug in a very widely deployed codebase.
Roundcube is one of the most common open-source webmail front-ends, bundled into hosting panels like cPanel and Plesk and run by countless providers, so a single account, phished, reused, or belonging to a low-privilege user, becomes server-side code execution on a mail host holding everyone's correspondence. A working exploit was sold in criminal markets and exploitation followed within weeks of the fix; it is on CISA's KEV list. Upgrade to 1.5.10 or 1.6.11 promptly. Because any authenticated user suffices, enforce strong authentication, watch for suspicious writes under the Roundcube tree and new PHP files, and treat credential exposure as part of the threat model rather than assuming outsiders alone are the risk.
References
- https://fearsoff.org/research/roundcube
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/commit/0376f69e958a8fef7f6f09e352c541b4e7729c4d
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/commit/7408f31379666124a39f9cb1018f62bc5e2dc695
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/commit/c50a07d88ca38f018a0f4a0b008e9a1deb32637e
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/pull/9865
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/releases/tag/1.5.10
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/releases/tag/1.6.11
- https://roundcube.net/news/2025/06/01/security-updates-1.6.11-and-1.5.10
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-49113-roundcube-mitigation-script
- https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-49113-roundcube-vulnerability-detection
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/06/02/3
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/06/msg00008.html
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-49113
Related CVEs
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2025-49113?
Roundcube Webmail before 1.5.10 and 1.6.x before 1.6.11 allows remote code execution by authenticated users because the _from parameter in a URL is not validated in program/actions/settings/upload.php, leading to PHP Object Deserialization.
How severe is CVE-2025-49113?
CVE-2025-49113 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.9, rated critical. On the Rainforest Risk Index — which weighs the severity alongside how easy the flaw is to reach and how broad its impact is — it scores 100 out of 100, in the critical band.
How is CVE-2025-49113 exploited?
According to the CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H): attack vector Network, attack complexity Low, privileges required Low, user interaction None. Impact on confidentiality High, integrity High and availability High.
Which products are affected by CVE-2025-49113?
Public advisories list the following as affected: debian linux, webmail. Check the references on this page for the exact versions each vendor confirms.
How do I fix CVE-2025-49113?
Apply the fix the vendor published — the references on this page link to the primary advisories and patches. When patching can't happen right away, reduce the exposure of the affected component and watch it for exploitation attempts. Rainforest customers see this vulnerability correlated to their own assets and prioritized by real exposure, not by score alone.
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