Proof-of-concept code has been released after researchers disclosed a maximum severity remote code execution vulnerability in Erlang/OTP SSH. Successful exploitation could allow for complete takeover of affected devices.

CVE-2025-32433: Erlang/OTP SSH Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Erlang/OTP is a set of libraries for the Erlang programming language. Prior to versions OTP-27.3.3, OTP-26.2.5.11, and OTP-25.3.2.20, a SSH server may allow an attacker to perform unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE). By exploiting a flaw in SSH protocol message handling, a malicious actor could gain unauthorized access to affected systems and execute arbitrary commands without valid credentials. This issue is patched in versions OTP-27.3.3, OTP-26.2.5.11, and OTP-25.3.2.20. A temporary workaround involves disabling the SSH server or to prevent access via firewall rules.

Proof-of-concept code has been released, successful exploitation could allow for complete takeover.

An update of the erlang package has been released.

The version of erlang installed on the remote CBL Mariner 2.0 host is prior to tested version. It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the CVE-2025-32433 advisory.

  - Erlang/OTP is a set of libraries for the Erlang programming language. Prior to versions OTP-27.3.3,     OTP-26.2.5.11, and OTP-25.3.2.20, a SSH server May allow an attacker to perform unauthenticated remote     code execution (RCE). By exploiting a flaw in SSH protocol message handling, a malicious actor could gain     unauthorized access to affected systems and execute arbitrary commands without valid credentials. This     issue is patched in versions OTP-27.3.3, OTP-26.2.5.11, and OTP-25.3.2.20. A temporary workaround involves     disabling the SSH server or to prevent access via firewall rules. (CVE-2025-32433)

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The version of erlang installed on the remote Azure Linux 3.0 host is prior to tested version. It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the CVE-2025-32433 advisory.

  - Erlang/OTP is a set of libraries for the Erlang programming language. Prior to versions OTP-27.3.3,     OTP-26.2.5.11, and OTP-25.3.2.20, a SSH server May allow an attacker to perform unauthenticated remote     code execution (RCE). By exploiting a flaw in SSH protocol message handling, a malicious actor could gain     unauthorized access to affected systems and execute arbitrary commands without valid credentials. This     issue is patched in versions OTP-27.3.3, OTP-26.2.5.11, and OTP-25.3.2.20. A temporary workaround involves     disabling the SSH server or to prevent access via firewall rules. (CVE-2025-32433)

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The remote SUSE Linux SLES15 / SLES_SAP15 / openSUSE 15 host has packages installed that are affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the SUSE-SU-2025:1357-1 advisory.

    - CVE-2025-32433: Fixed unauthenticated remote code execution in Erlang/OTP SSH (bsc#1241300)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the SUSE security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The remote SUSE Linux SLES15 / SLES_SAP15 / openSUSE 15 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the SUSE-SU-2025:1356-1 advisory.

    - CVE-2025-30211: Fixed KEX init error results with excessive memory usage (bsc#1240390)
     - CVE-2025-32433: Fixed unauthenticated remote code execution in Erlang/OTP SSH (bsc#1241300)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the SUSE security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The version of FreeBSD installed on the remote host is prior to tested version. It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the 06269ae8-1e0d-11f0-ad0b-b42e991fc52e advisory.

    security-advisories@github.com reports:

            Erlang/OTP is a set of libraries for the Erlang             programming language. Prior to versions OTP-27.3.3,             OTP-26.2.5.11, and OTP-25.3.2.20, a SSH server may allow             an attacker to perform unauthenticated remote code             execution (RCE). By exploiting a flaw in SSH protocol             message handling, a malicious actor could gain             unauthorized access to affected systems and execute             arbitrary commands without valid credentials. This issue             is patched in versions OTP-27.3.3, OTP-26.2.5.11, and             OTP-25.3.2.20. A temporary workaround involves disabling             the SSH server or to prevent access via firewall rules.


Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the FreeBSD security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The remote Debian 12 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the dsa-5906 advisory.

    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------     Debian Security Advisory DSA-5906-1                   security@debian.org     https://www.debian.org/security/                       Moritz Muehlenhoff     April 20, 2025                        https://www.debian.org/security/faq
    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Package        : erlang     CVE ID         : CVE-2023-48795 CVE-2025-26618 CVE-2025-30211                      CVE-2025-32433

    Several vulnerabilities were discovered in the Erlang/OTP implementation     of the SSH protocol, which may result in denial of service or the     execution of arbitrary code.

    For the stable distribution (bookworm), these problems have been fixed in     version 1:25.2.3+dfsg-1+deb12u1.

    We recommend that you upgrade your erlang packages.

    For the detailed security status of erlang please refer to     its security tracker page at:
    https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/erlang

    Further information about Debian Security Advisories, how to apply     these updates to your system and frequently asked questions can be     found at: https://www.debian.org/security/

    Mailing list: debian-security-announce@lists.debian.org

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Debian security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The remote Debian 11 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the dla-4132 advisory.

    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------     Debian LTS Advisory DLA-4132-1                debian-lts@lists.debian.org     https://www.debian.org/lts/security/                   Bastien Roucaris     April 21, 2025                                https://wiki.debian.org/LTS
    - -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Package        : erlang     Version        : 1:23.2.6+dfsg-1+deb11u2     CVE ID         : CVE-2023-48795 CVE-2025-26618 CVE-2025-30211 CVE-2025-32433     Debian Bug     : 1059002 1101713 1103442

    Multiple vulnerabilties were fixed in erlang.

    CVE-2023-48795 (Terrapin attack)

        The SSH transport protocol with certain OpenSSH extensions,         allows remote attackers to bypass integrity checks such         that some packets are omitted (from the extension         negotiation message), and a client and server may         consequently end up with a connection for which         some security features have been downgraded.

    CVE-2025-26618

        The SSH transport protocol with certain OpenSSH extensions,         allows remote attackers to bypass integrity checks such         that some packets are omitted (from the extension         negotiation message), and a client and server may         consequently end up with a connection for which         some security features have been downgraded.

    CVE-2025-30211

        The SSH transport protocol with certain OpenSSH extensions,         allows remote attackers to bypass integrity checks such         that some packets are omitted (from the extension         negotiation message), and a client and server may         consequently end up with a connection for which         some security features have been downgraded.

    CVE-2025-32433

        A SSH server may allow an attacker to perform unauthenticated         remote code execution (RCE). By exploiting a flaw in SSH protocol         message handling, a malicious actor could gain unauthorized access         to affected systems and execute arbitrary commands without valid         credentials.

    For Debian 11 bullseye, these problems have been fixed in version     1:23.2.6+dfsg-1+deb11u2.

    We recommend that you upgrade your erlang packages.

    For the detailed security status of erlang please refer to     its security tracker page at:
    https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/erlang

    Further information about Debian LTS security advisories, how to apply     these updates to your system and frequently asked questions can be     found at: https://wiki.debian.org/LTS

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Debian security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The remote Ubuntu 20.04 LTS / 22.04 LTS / 24.04 LTS / 24.10 host has packages installed that are affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the USN-7443-1 advisory.

    Fabian Bumer, Marcel Maehren, Marcus Brinkmann, and Jrg Schwenk discovered that Erlang OTPs SSH     module incorrect handled authentication. A remote attacker could use this issue to execute arbitrary     commands without authentication, possibly leading to a system compromise.

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The Erlang/OTP SSH applicaiton installed on the remote host is 4.15.x < 4.15.3.12, 5.1.x < 5.1.4.8, 5.2.x < 5.2.10.
Therefore, it is affected by a remote code execution vulnerability due to a flaw in the SSH protocol message handling.
An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary commands.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Severity
234823	Photon OS 4.0: Erlang PHSA-2025-4.0-0786	Nessus	PhotonOS Local Security Checks	critical
234787	Photon OS 5.0: Erlang PHSA-2025-5.0-0509	Nessus	PhotonOS Local Security Checks	critical
234740	CBL Mariner 2.0 Security Update: erlang (CVE-2025-32433)	Nessus	MarinerOS Local Security Checks	critical
234736	Azure Linux 3.0 Security Update: erlang (CVE-2025-32433)	Nessus	Azure Linux Local Security Checks	critical
234735	SUSE SLES15 / openSUSE 15 Security Update : erlang (SUSE-SU-2025:1357-1)	Nessus	SuSE Local Security Checks	critical
234724	SUSE SLES15 / openSUSE 15 Security Update : erlang26 (SUSE-SU-2025:1356-1)	Nessus	SuSE Local Security Checks	critical
234700	FreeBSD : Erlang -- Erlang/OTP SSH Vulnerable to Pre-Authentication RCE (06269ae8-1e0d-11f0-ad0b-b42e991fc52e)	Nessus	FreeBSD Local Security Checks	critical
234690	Debian dsa-5906 : erlang - security update	Nessus	Debian Local Security Checks	critical
234684	Debian dla-4132 : erlang - security update	Nessus	Debian Local Security Checks	critical
234683	Ubuntu 20.04 LTS / 22.04 LTS / 24.04 LTS / 24.10 : Erlang vulnerability (USN-7443-1)	Nessus	Ubuntu Local Security Checks	critical
234627	Erlang/OTP SSH RCE (OTP-19595)	Nessus	Misc.	critical

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