- Lab
- Security
Remote Code Execution in Erlang/OTP: Emulation and Detection
In this lab, you’ll scan for, exploit, and investigate a critical Erlang/OTP SSH vulnerability (CVE-2025-32433). You’ll emulate an unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) attack and pivot to blue-team analysis to surface indicators of compromise.
Path Info
Table of Contents
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Challenge
Getting Started in the Lab Environment
Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!
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Challenge
Emulation
After discovering an exposed SSH service, you’ll leverage a provided Python proof-of-concept (PoC) to exploit the CVE-2025-32433 pre-auth remote code execution vulnerability and drop a reverse shell on the target Erlang/OTP host. This exercise mirrors real-world exploitation techniques documented in multiple public PoCs released in April 2025.
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Challenge
Detection
Operating only with Wireshark and a packet capture (PCAP), hunt for evidence of the CVE-2025-32433 exploit you executed earlier, and prove you don’t always need a SIEM to validate an intrusion.
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Challenge
The Last Challenge
Welcome to the final challenge! This is your last chance to experiment in the environment. Clicking Finish Lab will end this little world that flittered into existence just for you.
What's a lab?
Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.
Provided environment for hands-on practice
We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.
Guided walkthrough
Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!
Did you know?
On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.