# CVE-2023-25152: Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following in github.com/pterodactyl/wings

> Attackers with allocated servers can exploit symlink following to modify host files, escalate privileges, or gain remote shell access.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 8 Feb 2023
- **Updated:** 10 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p8r3-83r8-jwj5, GO-2023-1542

## What is CVE-2023-25152?

CVE-2023-25152 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in pterodactyl wings, published on 8 Feb 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Wings is Pterodactyl's server control plane. Affected versions are subject to a vulnerability which can be used to create new files and directory structures on the host system that previously did not exist, potentially allowing attackers to change their resource allocations, promote their containers to privileged mode, or potentially add ssh authorized keys to allow the attacker access to a remote shell on the target machine.   In order to use this exploit, an attacker must have an existing "server" allocated and controlled by the Wings Daemon. This vulnerability has been resolved in version `v1.11.3` of the Wings Daemon, and has been back-ported to the 1.7 release series in `v1.7.3`. Anyone running `v1.11.x` should upgrade to `v1.11.3` and anyone running `v1.7.x` should upgrade to `v1.7.3`. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

### Workarounds

None at this time.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-25152?

5 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/pterodactyl/wings. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/pterodactyl/wings` | Go | All versions | 1.7.3, 1.11.3 |
| `github.com/pterodactyl/wings` | Go | All versions | 1.7.3 |
| `github.com/pterodactyl/wings` | Go | All versions | 1.7.3 |
| `github.com/pterodactyl/wings` | Go | From 1.11.0 | 1.11.3 |
| `github.com/pterodactyl/wings` | Go | From 1.11.0 | 1.11.3 |

Products: Pterodactyl Wings.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-25152?

Upgrade github.com/pterodactyl/wings to a fixed version for your release line: 1.7.3 or 1.11.3.

## Is CVE-2023-25152 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-25152 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in pterodactyl wings

- [CVE-2024-27102](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-27102/): Improper isolation of server file access in github.com/pterodactyl/wings (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-25168](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25168/): Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following allowing the deletion of files and directories on the host system in wings (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2023-32080](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32080/): Wings vulnerable to escape to host from installation container (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2024-34066](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-34066/): Arbitrary File Write/Read in Pterodactyl wings (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2025-69199](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-69199/): Pterodactyl websocket endpoints have no visible rate limits or monitoring, allowing for DOS attacks (high 8.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-25152 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-25152 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in pterodactyl wings, published on 8 Feb 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-25152 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/pterodactyl/wings (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.7.3, 1.11.3
- github.com/pterodactyl/wings (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.7.3
- github.com/pterodactyl/wings (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.7.3
- github.com/pterodactyl/wings (Go): affected from 1.11.0; fixed in 1.11.3
- github.com/pterodactyl/wings (Go): affected from 1.11.0; fixed in 1.11.3

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25152/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25152/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-25152
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25152
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-25152

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25152/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.