Threat Report

Erlang/OTP SSH Vulnerability A critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-32433) in Erlang/OTP's SSH daemon allows unauthenticated remote code execution, affecting critical infrastructure and operational technology networks.

Threat Overview

The threat report published by AlienVault on 2025-08-11T14:56:49.748Z highlights a critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-32433) in Erlang/OTP’s SSH daemon that allows unauthenticated remote code execution. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to critical infrastructure and operational technology networks, with a CVSS score of 10.0. The exploit enables command execution by sending SSH connection protocol messages to open ports.

Exploit attempts peaked from May 1-9, 2025, with 70% of detections occurring in OT (Operational Technology) networks. This vulnerability impacts various industries, including healthcare, agriculture, media, and high technology. Malicious payloads observed include reverse shells for unauthorized access.

The geographic distribution shows a high impact in countries such as Japan, the U.S., and Brazil. The exploit attempts occur in concentrated bursts, disproportionately affecting OT environments across diverse sectors.

Detailed Analysis

The vulnerability in Erlang/OTP’s SSH daemon is particularly concerning due to its potential for unauthenticated remote code execution. This means that an attacker does not need any prior authentication to execute malicious commands on the affected system.

The CVSS score of 10.0 indicates the highest level of severity, emphasizing the urgent need for mitigation. The exploit works by sending specially crafted SSH connection protocol messages to open ports, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system.

The peak in exploit attempts from May 1-9, 2025, suggests a coordinated effort by threat actors to capitalize on this vulnerability. The fact that 70% of detections were in OT networks highlights the attractiveness of these environments for attackers seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure.

Industries affected by this vulnerability include healthcare, where disruptions can have life-threatening consequences; agriculture, where operational technology is crucial for food production and distribution; media, where downtime can result in significant financial losses; and high technology, where intellectual property and sensitive data are at risk.

Malicious payloads observed in the wild include reverse shells, which provide attackers with unauthorized access to the compromised system. This access can be used for further exploitation, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network.

Geographic Distribution

The geographic distribution of exploit attempts shows a high impact in countries like Japan, the U.S., and Brazil. These countries are likely targeted due to their advanced technological infrastructure and the presence of critical industries that rely on operational technology.

The concentrated bursts of exploit attempts indicate a coordinated effort by threat actors. This suggests that the vulnerability is being actively exploited by multiple groups, increasing the risk to affected organizations.

Recommendations for Mitigation

Organizations can implement several measures to mitigate the threat posed by this Erlang/OTP SSH vulnerability. These include:

• Patch Management: Immediately apply the necessary patches provided by Erlang/OTP to address the CVE-2025-32433 vulnerability. Regular patch management is crucial for maintaining the security of operational technology networks.
• Network Segmentation: Implement network segmentation to limit the lateral movement of attackers within the network. This can be achieved by dividing the network into smaller segments and implementing strict access controls between segments.
• Intrusion Detection Systems: Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor network traffic for signs of malicious activity. IDS can help detect and alert on suspicious traffic patterns, allowing organizations to respond quickly to potential threats.
• Endpoint Protection: Implement endpoint protection solutions to detect and block malware on individual devices. Endpoint protection can help prevent the initial infection and limit the spread of malware within the network.
• Security Awareness Training: Provide regular security awareness training to employees to help them recognize and report potential security threats. This can include phishing simulations, training on recognizing suspicious emails, and best practices for password security.
• Regular Backups: Maintain regular backups of critical data to ensure that it can be restored in the event of a ransomware attack or data loss. Backups should be stored offline or in a separate network segment to prevent them from being encrypted or deleted by the malware.
• Incident Response Plan: Develop and maintain an incident response plan to ensure that the organization can respond quickly and effectively to security incidents. The plan should include steps for containing the threat, investigating the incident, and restoring affected systems.

By implementing these measures, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to this Erlang/OTP SSH vulnerability and other sophisticated cyber threats.

Additional Information

For more detailed information on this vulnerability and its implications, please refer to the following external references:

• Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Report
• AlienVault OTX Pulse