CVE-2020-13151

CRITICAL

Aerospike Database UDF Lua Code Execution

Title source: metasploit
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 4 public exploits for CVE-2020-13151. PoCs published by Matt S, b4ny4n, ByteMe1001, including Metasploit module exploits/linux/misc/aerospike_database_udf_cmd_exec.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages CVE-2020-13151 to achieve remote command execution on Aerospike Database versions prior to 5.1.0.3 by registering a malicious UDF (User Defined Function) and executing arbitrary commands via the `apply` method.

Description

Aerospike Community Edition 4.9.0.5 allows for unauthenticated submission and execution of user-defined functions (UDFs), written in Lua, as part of a database query. It attempts to restrict code execution by disabling os.execute() calls, but this is insufficient. Anyone with network access can use a crafted UDF to execute arbitrary OS commands on all nodes of the cluster at the permission level of the user running the Aerospike service.

Exploits (4)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Matt S · pythonremotemultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49067

This exploit leverages CVE-2020-13151 to achieve remote command execution on Aerospike Database versions prior to 5.1.0.3 by registering a malicious UDF (User Defined Function) and executing arbitrary commands via the `apply` method.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Aerospike Database < 5.1.0.3
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the Aerospike port (default 3000) · Aerospike Python client library installed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 38 stars
by b4ny4n · poc
https://github.com/b4ny4n/CVE-2020-13151

This repository contains a functional PoC for CVE-2020-13151, which exploits a command execution vulnerability in Aerospike Database versions prior to 5.1.0.3. The exploit leverages a Lua UDF (User Defined Function) to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying host via `io.popen`.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Aerospike Database < 5.1.0.3
Auth required
Prerequisites: Network access to Aerospike port (default 3000) · Valid credentials with read-write-udf privilege or unauthenticated access if security is disabled
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by ByteMe1001 · poc
https://github.com/ByteMe1001/CVE-2020-13151-POC-Aerospike-Server-Host-Command-Execution-RCE-

This repository contains a functional PoC for CVE-2020-13151, an RCE vulnerability in Aerospike Server. The exploit leverages a Lua UDF (User Defined Function) to execute arbitrary commands via `io.popen`, bypassing restrictions on `os.execute()`.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Aerospike Server < 5.1.0.3
Auth required
Prerequisites: Network access to Aerospike Server · Valid credentials with read-write-udf privilege or unauthenticated access if security is disabled
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GREAT
by b4ny4n, bcoles · rubypocunix
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/misc/aerospike_database_udf_cmd_exec.rb

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2020-13151 in Aerospike Database by uploading a malicious Lua UDF that executes arbitrary commands via `os.execute`. It supports both direct command execution and staged payloads, with cleanup to avoid persistent backdoors.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Aerospike Database versions before 5.1.0.3
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to Aerospike Database port (default 3000) · UDF functionality enabled
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

Scores

CVSS v3 9.8
EPSS 0.8675
EPSS Percentile 99.7%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-78
Status published
Products (1)
aerospike/aerospike_server < 4.5.3.21
Published Aug 05, 2020
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026