# CVE-2018-25114: Online Merchant - RCE

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2018-25114 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2018-25114

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 9.3
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** osCommerce Online Merchant
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type); CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'))
- **Tags:** web_application

## Description

A remote code execution vulnerability exists within osCommerce Online Merchant version 2.3.4.1 due to insecure default configuration and missing authentication in the installer workflow. By default, the /install/ directory remains accessible after installation. An unauthenticated attacker can invoke install_4.php, submit crafted POST data, and inject arbitrary PHP code into the configure.php file. When the application later includes this file, the injected payload is executed, resulting in full server-side compromise.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2018-25114](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2018-25114) is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in osCommerce Online Merchant 2.3.4.1, stemming from insecure default configurations and missing authentication in the installer workflow. Attackers can exploit the accessible /install/ directory to inject arbitrary PHP code into the configure.php file, leading to full server-side compromise when the file is executed. This flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to take complete control of the affected server, posing a severe risk to e-commerce sites running vulnerable versions.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 29th of October 2025.

Insights from the CrowdSec network reveal that the attackers trying to exploit CVE-2018-25114 are composed of a fairly even mix of opportunistic and targeted actors. Some attackers employ preliminary reconnaissance, while others use indiscriminate scanning.
CrowdSec network telemetry also shows that exploitation of CVE-2018-25114 has significantly declined over the past week. Attack volumes are well below the long-term average, suggesting attackers are rapidly losing interest. The vulnerability appears to be falling out of active use across most threat landscapes.

Attackers exploit the osCommerce installer by sending crafted POST requests to `/install/install.php?step=4` and subsequently accessing `/install/includes/configure.php` to execute arbitrary PHP code, targeting sites where the `/install/` directory remains accessible after installation.

## Timeline

- 2025-07-23: CVE Published. CVE-2018-25114 is published to NVD.
- 2025-10-29: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2018-25114 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-11-05: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2018-25114 for the first time.

## References

- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/oscommerce-installer-unauth-config-file-injection-php-code-execution
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/oscommerce_installer_unauth_code_exec.rb
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2018/CVE-2018-25114.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2018-25114) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2018-25114. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.