Description
The web interface for AWStats 6.4 and 6.5, when statistics updates are enabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters in the migrate parameter.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | awstats | 6.5-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | awstats | 6.5-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | awstats | 6.5-2 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | awstats | 6.4-1sarge2 | DSA-1058-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 1 module
-
AWStats migrate Remote Command Execution
exploit/unix/webapp/awstats_migrate_exec
Exploit-DB 3
- AWStats 6.4 < 6.5 - migrate Remote Command Execution (Metasploit) EDB-16886 · webapps · Jul 3, 2010 · verified
- AWStats 6.5 - 'migrate' Remote Shell Command Injection EDB-1755 · webapps · May 6, 2006 · verified
- AWStats 6.4 < 6.5 - AllowToUpdateStatsFromBrowser Command Injection (Metasploit) EDB-9909 · webapps · May 4, 2006 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-1058-1 awstats - missing input sanitising Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20710 third-party-advisory
- 20186 third-party-advisory
- http://awstats.sourceforge.net/awstats_security_news.php
- DSA-1058 vendor-advisory
- 20496 third-party-advisory
- awstats-migrate-command-execution(26287) vdb-entry
- ADV-2006-1678 vdb-entry
- http://www.osreviews.net/reviews/comm/awstats
- 20170 third-party-advisory
- 25284 vdb-entry
- USN-285-1 vendor-advisory
- http://www.vuxml.org/freebsd/2df297a2-dc74-11da-a22b-000c6ec775d9.html
- 19969 third-party-advisory
- GLSA-200606-06 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2006:033 vendor-advisory
- 17844 vdb-entry