CVE-2025-34078: nsclient\+\+ Credential Exposure

Description

A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 when both the web interface and ExternalScripts features are enabled. The configuration file (nsclient.ini) stores the administrative password in plaintext and is readable by local users. By extracting this password, an attacker can authenticate to the NSClient++ web interface (typically accessible on port 8443) and abuse the ExternalScripts plugin to inject and execute arbitrary commands as SYSTEM by registering a custom script, saving the configuration, and triggering it via the API. This behavior is documented but insecure, as the plaintext credential exposure undermines access isolation between local users and administrative functions.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

7.8

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-522 CWE-522

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
nsclient	nsclient\+\+	All

References

Exploits

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/local/nscp_pe.rb https://vulncheck.com/advisories/nsclient-localtoremote-system-compromise https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46802 https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/48360

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-34078? +

A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 when both the web interface and ExternalScripts features are enabled. The configuration file (nsclient.ini) stores the administrative password in plaintext and is readable by local users. By extracting this password, an attacker can authenticate to the NSClient++ web interface (typically accessible on port 8443) and abuse the ExternalScripts plugin to inject and execute arbitrary commands as SYSTEM by registering a custom script, saving the configuration, and triggering it via the API. This behavior is documented but insecure, as the plaintext credential exposure undermines access isolation between local users and administrative functions. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2025-34078? +

CVE-2025-34078 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-34078? +

CVE-2025-34078 affects products from nsclient, specifically: nsclient\+\+. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-34078? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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CVE-2025-34078