React2Shell

React2Shell is a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit demonstrating a CRITICAL remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in modern web frameworks using React Server Components (RSC).

This PoC targets CVE-2025-55182, a CVSS 10.0 vulnerability that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands via insecure deserialization inside the React Server Components implementation.

🔍 Vulnerability Overview

React2Shell exploits a flaw in how React Server Components process untrusted input during the rehydration phase.

The vulnerability originates in the underlying react-server-dom-* packages responsible for serializing and deserializing component trees.

💥 Impact

Applications using affected versions of React Server Components may process malicious payloads in a way that leads to remote code execution (RCE) under the privileges of the server process.

An attacker can:

• Execute arbitrary system commands.
• Pivot into internal infrastructure.
• Exfiltrate sensitive data.
• Disrupt service availability.

If your deployment matches any of the vulnerable versions below and exposes RSC endpoints, you are vulnerable.

📦 Affected Components

The vulnerability is present in versions 19.0.0, 19.1.0, 19.1.1, and 19.2.0 of:

• react-server-dom-parcel
• react-server-dom-webpack
• react-server-dom-turbopack

🎯 Affected Frameworks & Versions

These packages are bundled into multiple frameworks, including but not limited to:

• Next.js
  • Versions 15.0.0 through 16.0.6
  • Canary versions after 14.3.0-canary.76
• Other frameworks using RSC (v19.0.0–19.2.0), such as:
  • Vite
  • Parcel
  • React Router
  • RedwoodSDK
  • Waku

Any framework embedding the vulnerable React Server Components implementation is potentially affected.

🛠 Features & Capabilities

React2Shell includes a modular payload generator designed to bypass common Node.js restrictions and WAF rules:

• Standard Injection

  • Uses process.mainModule.require
  • Targets default Next.js / Webpack bundles.

• Async Bypass

  • Uses dynamic import() for strict ESM environments where require is unavailable.

• Obfuscation

  • Encodes sensitive strings (for example, child_process) into hex buffers to evade naive WAF signatures.

• Module Fallback

  • Leverages module.createRequire to load modules in alternative contexts.

• Universal Targeting

  • Configurable endpoints:
    • Next.js: root /
    • Waku: RSC endpoints such as /RSC/foo.txt

🚀 Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js v18.0.0 or higher.

Setup

git clone https://github.com/rsch-io/CVE-2025-55182-React2Shell.git
cd CVE-2025-55182-React2Shell

npm install form-data

📖 Usage

React2Shell is intended to be imported as a module into your own testing scripts.

1. Basic Exploit (Next.js Target)

Create a file named exploit.js:

const React2Shell = require('./src/react2shell');

// Initialize with target base URL
const target = new React2Shell('http://localhost:3000');

// Execute command using the "standard" strategy
// Arguments: execute(command, endpoint, strategy)
target.execute('whoami', '/', 'standard');

Then run:

node exploit.js

Note

• endpoint should be set to an RSC-enabled route (for example, /, /RSC/foo.txt, or framework-specific RSC endpoints).
• strategy can be changed (for example, standard, async, obfuscated, or any other strategy implemented in react2shell).

2. Targeting Waku / Custom Endpoints

Waku and other frameworks often expose RSC handling on specific routes:

// Target a Waku application
// Note: Use 'async' strategy as Waku often runs in strict ESM
target.execute('ls -la', '/RSC/foo.txt', 'async');

3. WAF Evasion Mode

If the server blocks strings containing child_process, you can use the obfuscated strategy:

target.execute('cat /etc/passwd', '/', 'obfuscated');

🛡️ Resolution & Remediation

Update immediately. Updated releases of React and affected downstream frameworks include hardened handling of user inputs to prevent unintended behavior.
All users should upgrade to a patched version as soon as possible.

✅ Fixed Versions List

Below is the definitive list of patched versions. If your deployed version is lower than these, you are vulnerable.

Warning for Next.js 14 users
If you are using Next.js 14.3.0-canary.77 or a later canary release, you are vulnerable.
You must downgrade to the latest stable 14.x release immediately, as the vulnerability affects the experimental RSC implementation present in those canary builds.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This project is provided for educational and authorized security testing purposes only.
Using this tool against systems without explicit permission is illegal and unethical.

The author(s) assume no liability for any misuse or damage caused by this tool.

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.