CVE-2025-48828: Certain vBulletin versions might allow attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by abusing Template Conditional

This week

CRITICAL 9.0REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2025-48828 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.0) affecting vbulletin. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Certain vBulletin versions might allow attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by abusing Template Conditionals in the template engine. By crafting template code in an alternative PHP function invocation syntax, such as the "var_dump"("test") syntax, attackers can bypass security checks and execute arbitrary PHP code, as exploited in the wild in May 2025.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.0 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	57.3% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-424
Published	2025-05-27
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: vbulletin

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2025-05-27 04:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 09:30 UTCUpdated Record last modified

vbulletin vbulletin DOWNGRADE

Affected: 6.0.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0.3

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy vbulletin || rpm -q vbulletin || vbulletin --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.0.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison vbulletin sudo apt install vbulletin=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.0.3> sudo apt-mark hold vbulletin

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list vbulletin sudo dnf downgrade vbulletin-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.0.3> sudo dnf versionlock add vbulletin

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · fips-provider-next · FIXED · 1.5.3-3.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-3ce99ec7df · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-3ce99ec7df

Fedora 46 · rubygem-webmock · FIXED · 3.26.1-3.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-bb57b4d095 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-bb57b4d095

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: ill-deed/vBulletin-CVE-2025-48828-Multi-target (0 stars)
Write-up: karmainsecurity.com/dont-call-that-protected-method-vbulletin-rce
Write-up: kevintel.com/CVE-2025-48828
Metasploit: vBulletin replaceAdTemplate Remote Code Execution
Nuclei scan template: vBulletin replaceAdTemplate - Remote Code Execution

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2025-48828?

vbulletin: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2025-48828 being exploited?

CVE-2025-48828 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2025-48828 affect?

CVE-2025-48828 affects vbulletin. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.0). Certain vBulletin versions might allow attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by abusing Template Conditionals in the template engine. By crafting template code in an alternative PHP function invocation syntax, such as the "var_dump"("test

How urgent is CVE-2025-48828?

Priority 66/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2025-46171 MEDIUM 5.4 DOWNGRADE vBulletin 3.8.7 is vulnerable to a denial-of-service condition via the misc.php?do=buddylist endpoint
CVE-2025-48827 CRITICAL 10.0 UPGRADE vBulletin 5.0.0 through 5.7.5 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.3 allows unauthenticated users to invoke protected API con

References

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