CVE-2025-62713: Kottster Node.js Admin Panel RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-62713 Overview

CVE-2025-62713 is a pre-authentication remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in Kottster, a self-hosted Node.js admin panel. The flaw affects versions 3.2.0 through 3.3.1 when the application runs in development mode. Attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands without authentication on systems running the vulnerable development server. Production deployments are not affected. The issue is tracked under [CWE-78] OS Command Injection. The maintainers released a fix in version 3.3.2.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution on Kottster instances running in development mode, leading to full host compromise and exposure of source code, credentials, and connected data sources.

Affected Products

Kottster versions 3.2.0 through 3.3.1 (development mode)
Node.js admin panel deployments using kottster dev or equivalent development servers
Connected data sources and credentials reachable from the host running Kottster

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-23 - CVE-2025-62713 published to NVD
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-62713

Vulnerability Analysis

Kottster exposes a development-mode interface that accepts input later used in OS command construction. Because the development server skips authentication for developer convenience, any network-reachable client can interact with the vulnerable endpoints. The flaw is classified as [CWE-78] OS Command Injection, allowing attackers to break out of intended command arguments and execute arbitrary shell commands under the privileges of the Node.js process.

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without user interaction. Successful exploitation grants the attacker the same level of access as the Kottster process, which typically includes filesystem access to project source, environment variables, and database connection strings used by the admin panel.

Root Cause

The root cause is unsanitized user-controlled input passed to shell or process execution functions inside the CLI and file creation logic. The fix in commit 0a7d24922a23aac98372155348787670937eef89 introduces a PackageManager model and routes package manager selection through a typed packageManager field in fileCreator.service.ts and newProject.action.ts, replacing string concatenation patterns that enabled injection.

Attack Vector

Attackers send crafted HTTP requests to a Kottster instance running in development mode. Because development mode lacks authentication and is sometimes bound to non-localhost interfaces in containerized or remote-dev workflows, an external attacker on the same network — or reachable through exposed dev ports — can trigger command execution.

typescript

// Patch excerpt: packages/cli/cli/actions/newProject.action.ts
     })
     fileCreator.createProject({
       projectName,
+      packageManager: projectSetupData.packageManager,
     })
 
     if (options.skipInstall || projectSetupData.skipPackageInstallation) {

typescript

// Patch excerpt: packages/cli/cli/services/fileCreator.service.ts
 import { dataSourcesTypeData, DataSourceType } from '@kottster/common'
 import { FileTemplateManager } from './fileTemplateManager.service'
 import { VERSION } from '../version'
+import { PackageManager } from '../models/packageManager'
 
 interface FileCreatorOptions {
   projectDir?: string

Source: Kottster security patch commit

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62713

Indicators of Compromise

Kottster development server processes listening on non-loopback interfaces or exposed container ports
Child processes spawned by the Kottster Node.js process invoking shells (sh, bash, cmd.exe) with unexpected arguments
Outbound connections from developer workstations to unknown hosts shortly after Kottster dev server startup
Unexpected modifications to project files or .env files under directories managed by Kottster

Detection Strategies

Inventory all Node.js projects using @kottster/cli or @kottster/server and identify versions in the 3.2.0 to 3.3.1 range
Hunt for process telemetry showing the Kottster CLI process spawning shell interpreters or package managers with attacker-controlled arguments
Inspect HTTP access logs on dev servers for anomalous requests targeting project setup or package manager endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert when development servers bind to 0.0.0.0 or are reachable beyond the developer workstation
Monitor EDR telemetry for node parent processes spawning sh -c, bash -c, or arbitrary executables
Track creation of new outbound network sessions originating from Node.js development processes

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62713

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Kottster to version 3.3.2 or later across all developer workstations and CI environments
Confirm that no production deployments rely on development mode startup commands
Restrict Kottster development server binding to 127.0.0.1 and block external access to dev ports
Rotate any credentials, API keys, or database secrets that may have been exposed on affected workstations

Patch Information

The vulnerability is fixed in Kottster version 3.3.2. Review the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-j3w7-9qc3-g96p and the upstream patch commit for full remediation details.

Workarounds

Stop running Kottster in development mode on any host reachable from untrusted networks
Place dev environments behind VPN or host-only networking until the upgrade is applied
Use firewall rules to restrict inbound traffic to the Kottster dev port to localhost only

bash

# Upgrade Kottster to the patched version
npm install @kottster/cli@^3.3.2 @kottster/server@^3.3.2

# Verify installed version
npx kottster --version

# Restrict dev server to localhost (example)
HOST=127.0.0.1 npx kottster dev