Remote Code Execution (RCE)

Remote Code Execution (RCE) is among the most severe vulnerability classes, allowing an attacker to run arbitrary commands or code on a target system without physical access. RCE can result from various underlying vulnerabilities including command injection, insecure deserialization, server-side template injection (SSTI), file upload vulnerabilities, and buffer overflows.

RCE vulnerabilities in web applications commonly arise from: dynamic code interpretation with user input, server-side template injection in Jinja2/Twig/Freemarker, unrestricted file upload allowing webshells, and deserialization of untrusted data with dangerous gadget chains.

The impact of RCE is typically rated as critical because it gives the attacker full control over the affected system. From there, attackers can steal data, install persistent backdoors, pivot to other internal systems, or deploy ransomware.

How APVISO tests for this: APVISO's scanner agent tests for multiple RCE vectors including SSTI in template engines, code injection in dynamic interpretation functions, and file upload bypass techniques. Out-of-band detection confirms successful execution even when direct output is not visible.