Detect RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CVE-2025-49113) in IBM QRadar
CVE-2025-49113 is an actively exploited deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability (CWE-502) in Roundcube Webmail. When exploited, an attacker can send a specially crafted serialized PHP object via the web interface, leading to remote code execution on the underlying server. This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and requires immediate patching to versions 1.5.10 or 1.6.11.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Initial Access Execution Persistence
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(starttime, 'YYYY-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS event_time,
sourceip,
destinationip,
destinationport,
URL,
"HTTP Method",
"HTTP Response Code",
QIDNAME(qid) AS event_name,
logsourcename(logsourceid) AS log_source
FROM events
WHERE
LOGSOURCETYPENAME(logsourceid) IN ('Apache HTTP Server', 'Nginx', 'Microsoft IIS', 'Juniper SRX', 'Palo Alto PA Series')
AND (
URL ILIKE '%roundcube%'
OR URL ILIKE '%/index.php%'
)
AND (
URL ILIKE '%O%3A%'
OR URL ILIKE '%a%3A%'
OR URL ILIKE '%s%3A%'
OR PAYLOADBYTES(payload, 500) ILIKE BINARY '%O:[0-9]%:%'
OR PAYLOADBYTES(payload, 500) ILIKE BINARY '%a:[0-9]%:{%'
)
AND LOGSOURCEID > 0
AND starttime > NOW() - 604800000
ORDER BY starttime DESC
LIMIT 1000QRadar AQL query to identify HTTP requests containing PHP serialized object signatures targeting Roundcube Webmail endpoints, sourced from web server and perimeter firewall log sources.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Security assessment tools running automated Roundcube deserialization tests
- Internal monitoring systems that parse and re-submit serialized Roundcube session tokens
- URL-encoded data in Roundcube plugins that coincidentally match serialization patterns
- Web crawlers or archival bots that submit encoded URL parameters
Other platforms for CVE-2025-49113
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Roundcube Deserialization Probe via GET Parameter
Expected signal: HTTP GET request to Roundcube /index.php with O%3A in query string captured in web access logs; PHP error log may show unserialize() invocation
- Test 2Roundcube POST Body Deserialization with Crafted Object
Expected signal: POST request to Roundcube /index.php with serialized object in body captured by WAF or proxy; PHP error log records unserialize call or type error
- Test 3Web Shell Drop via Simulated Roundcube RCE
Expected signal: File creation event in Roundcube web root (inotify/auditd/EDR file write event); new .php file with non-standard name in web root directory
- Test 4Outbound Reverse Shell from PHP Process (Post-Exploitation Simulation)
Expected signal: Process creation event: www-data spawning bash with /dev/tcp redirect; outbound TCP connection from web server worker to port 4444; EDR network connection alert for web process initiating outbound shell
Unlock Pro Content
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