CVE-2025-5196
Published: 26 May 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-5196 is a high-severity Execution with Unnecessary Privileges (CWE-250) vulnerability in Wftpserver Wing Ftp Server. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 18.6% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
Wing FTP Server versions up to 7.4.3 are affected by a vulnerability in the Lua Admin Console component that permits execution with unnecessary privileges, tracked as CWE-250. The flaw received a CVSS 4.0 score of 7.5 reflecting network attack vector, high complexity, high privileges required, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
An authenticated remote administrator can leverage the issue to run commands with elevated rights on the server, although successful exploitation requires overcoming significant attack complexity.
The vendor released version 7.4.4 to address the problem and stated that system administrators already hold full permissions, while recommending that the service run under a normal user account rather than SYSTEM or root. Public references include a detailed proof-of-concept and the vendor's change history.
EPSS remains flat at 0.0149 with no material increase after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-16276
Vulnerability details
A vulnerability has been found in Wing FTP Server up to 7.4.3 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Lua Admin Console. The manipulation leads to execution with unnecessary privileges. The attack…
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can be launched remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Upgrading to version 7.4.4 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The vendor explains: "[W]e do not consider it as a security vulnerability, because the system admin in WingFTP has full permissions [...], but you can suggest the user run WingFTP service as Normal User rather than SYSTEM/Root, it will be safer."
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Policy promotes least privilege by defining necessary privileges and management commitment to them.
Supervision detects and allows removal of unnecessary privileges that enable execution with excess rights.
Reviewing accounts for compliance, disabling/removing unneeded accounts, and aligning with termination processes prevents execution with unnecessary privileges.
Separation of duties prevents any single user from holding all privileges needed to complete a critical task, directly reducing execution with unnecessary privileges.
Directly prevents execution with more privileges than needed for assigned tasks.
Role-based training on least privilege principles reduces the chance personnel assign or retain unnecessary privileges.
Analysis of audit records can identify execution with unnecessary privileges through unusual activity patterns.
Automatic termination after a defined period eliminates unnecessary privileges from persistent connections.