CVE-2025-5777 is a critical authentication bypass and remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability discovered in Trend Micro Apex Central. It allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the system by abusing a flaw in the web-based management interface.
- Severity: Critical
- CVSS Score: 10.0
- Attack Vector: Remote
- Authentication Required: No
- Affected Product: Trend Micro Apex Central
- Affected Versions: Prior to Patch 2379
- Status: Actively exploited in the wild
The vulnerability exists in the web interface of Trend Micro Apex Central. By sending a specially crafted HTTP request, an attacker can bypass authentication and trigger command execution with SYSTEM/root privileges.
📝 Note: This flaw impacts externally accessible deployments that have not applied the patch released in June 2025.
The PoC abuses a misconfigured authentication check in an internal endpoint, followed by injection of system commands.
python3 cve-2025-5777-poc.py --target http://<target-ip> --cmd "whoami"Replace
<target-ip>with the vulnerable Apex Central instance address.
If successful, the command output (e.g., nt authority\system) will be returned in the HTTP response.
- Python – scripting the exploit
- Burp Suite – intercepting & modifying requests
- Wireshark – packet analysis
- Nmap – service enumeration
- Trend Micro Apex Central – target application
- GitHub – for publishing PoC & documentation
- Deploy a vulnerable version of Trend Micro Apex Central (prior to Patch 2379).
- Run the exploit script with the target IP and desired command.
- Observe the output returned from the server (indicating code execution).
- Confirm system-level privileges via additional commands (
whoami,id, etc.).
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Update Trend Micro Apex Central to Patch 2379 or later.
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Restrict public access to the Apex Central web interface.
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Monitor logs for unusual system command execution patterns.
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Use network-layer controls to prevent unauthenticated access.
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This PoC is created strictly for educational and demonstration purposes.
Unauthorized use against systems you do not own or have permission to test is illegal.
Simulated PowerShell Listener Output:
Exploit Executed from Kali:
Shivshant Patil
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v13)
B.Tech Computer Engineering Graduate
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