CVE-2025-25205: CVE-2025-25205: Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted audiobook and podcast server. Starting in version 2.17.0 a…
audiobookshelf · audiobookshelf · NVD published 2025-02-13 · posted 2025-02-12 · last modified 2026-06-17
What it is
Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted audiobook and podcast server. Starting in version 2.17.0 and prior to version 2.19.1, a flaw in the authentication bypass logic allows unauthenticated requests to match certain unanchored regex patterns in the URL. Attackers can craft URLs containing substrings like "/api/items/1/cover" in a query parameter (?r=/api/items/1/cover) to partially bypass authentication or trigger server crashes under certain routes. This could lead to information disclosure of otherwise protected data and, in some cases, a complete denial of service (server crash) if downstream code expects an authenticated user object. Version 2.19.1 contains a patch for the issue.
| Weakness | CWE-202CWE-287CWE-400 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H (source: [email protected]) |
| ATT&CK tactics | Initial Access → Persistence → Privilege Escalation → Stealth → Impact |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2025-02-12 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
No source on this site lists in-the-wild exploitation yet (CISA KEV, VulnCheck KEV).
Public exploit code
Metasploit
auxiliary/scanner/http/audiobookshelf_auth_bypass: Audiobookshelf Unauthenticated API Authentication Bypass Scanner (disclosure 2025-02-12)
Sources: Rapid7 Metasploit Framework module metadata.
Defend the Chain
The attack chain for CVE-2025-25205 laid across the MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise tactics. Solid cards come from the MITRE CTID KEV mappings; dashed cards are inferred by CVERadar from the CWE or description. Correct defences are real ATT&CK mitigations for that technique.
Pick a red technique card on the board, then choose the defence that stops it.
Defend against T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Inferred
Inferred from CWE CWE-287
How to fix it
Fixed versions
- audiobookshelf audiobookshelf: upgrade to 2.19.1 or later (affected from 2.17.0)
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/commit/bf8407274e3ee300af1927ee660d078a7a801e1c (Patch)
- https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/commit/ec6537656925a43871b07cfee12c9f383844d224 (Patch)
- https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/pull/3584 (Issue Tracking, Patch)
- https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/security/advisories/GHSA-pg8v-5jcv-wrvw (Exploit, Vendor Advisory)
MITRE ATT&CK mitigations for this chain
- M1048 Application Isolation and Sandboxing (for T1190) : Application isolation will limit what other processes and system features the exploited target can access.
- M1037 Filter Network Traffic (for T1190, T1499) : Restrict outbound network traffic from public-facing servers to prevent unauthorized connections from initiating communications with attacker-controlled infrastructure. While this may not prevent the initial exploitation, it limits the attacker's ability to verify and control the compromised server post-exploit, reduci
- M1030 Network Segmentation (for T1190) : Segment externally facing servers and services from the rest of the network with a DMZ or on separate hosting infrastructure.
- M1016 Vulnerability Scanning (for T1190) : Regularly scan externally facing systems for vulnerabilities and establish procedures to rapidly patch systems when critical vulnerabilities are discovered through scanning and through public disclosure.
- M1026 Privileged Account Management (for T1190, T1078) : Use least privilege for service accounts will limit what permissions the exploited process gets on the rest of the system.
- M1050 Exploit Protection (for T1190) : Web Application Firewalls may be used to limit exposure of applications to prevent exploit traffic from reaching the application.
- M1035 Limit Access to Resource Over Network (for T1190) : Ensure that all publicly exposed services are actually intended to be so, and restrict access to any that should only be available internally.
- M1051 Update Software (for T1190) : Update software regularly by employing patch management for externally exposed applications.
- M1027 Password Policies (for T1078) : Applications and appliances that utilize default username and password should be changed immediately after the installation, and before deployment to a production environment. When possible, applications that use SSH keys should be updated periodically and properly secured. Policies should minimize (if not eliminate)
- M1018 User Account Management (for T1078) : Regularly audit user accounts for activity and deactivate or remove any that are no longer needed.
Detection Generic guidance
- Initial Access: Alert on unusual requests to the affected service (odd paths, oversized payloads, exploit strings) in WAF, reverse-proxy and application logs.
- Persistence: Look for new files in web roots, new scheduled tasks/services, and new accounts created after the exposure window.
- Privilege Escalation: Alert on processes gaining SYSTEM/root unexpectedly, and on exploitation crashes of privileged services.
- Impact: Monitor service availability, unexpected encryption activity and mass file changes.
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.