CVE-2025-34078
NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 Local Privilege Escalation via ExternalScripts and Web Interface
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.3
NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 Local Privilege Escalation via ExternalScripts and Web Interface
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.
- Record
CVE-2025-34078- CVSS 4.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-522
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2025-19753
7.3
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.
- Record
EUVD-2025-19753- CVSS 4.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-jr25-22p3-gm6r
7.3
A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 when both the web...
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.
- Record
GHSA-jr25-22p3-gm6r- CVSS 4.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-269, CWE-522
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.3
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.
- Record
CVE-2025-34078- CVSS 4.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-522
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.3
NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 Local Privilege Escalation via ExternalScripts and Web Interface
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.
- Record
CVE-2025-34078- CVSS 4.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-522
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 - Privilege escalation | 2020-10-20 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, Metasploit, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2025-34078 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.3) in Nsclient++, published July 2, 2025. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.71%, the 53rd percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/local/nscp_pe.rb
exploit-db.com/exploits/48360
exploit-db.com/exploits/46802
vulncheck.com/advisories/nsclient-localtoremote-system-compromise
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-34078
github.com/advisories/GHSA-jr25-22p3-gm6r
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2025/34xxx/CVE-2025-34078.json