CVE-2023-30801: qBittorrent client · Use of Default Credentials
Affects qBittorrent clientSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 1.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 69% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 10 Oct 2023
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-25.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| qBittorrent qBittorrent client | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2023-30801 effectively, European organizations should take immediate and specific actions beyond generic advice: 1) Disable the qBittorrent web user interface if it is not essential to operations, thereby eliminating the attack surface. 2) If the web UI is required, restrict access strictly via network-level controls such as firewalls or VPNs to trusted IP addresses only. 3) Monitor network traffic and system logs for any unauthorized access attempts or unusual command executions related to qBittorrent processes. 4) Implement host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation. 5) Educate users and administrators about the risks of default credentials and enforce policies to change any default or weak passwords immediately. 6) Consider deploying application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of commands spawned by the qBittorrent client. 7) Stay informed on vendor updates and apply patches promptly once available. 8) As a longer-term measure, evaluate alternative torrent clients with better security postures for organizational use. These targeted steps will reduce exposure and help detect or prevent exploitation in the absence of an official patch.
Description
All versions of the qBittorrent client through 4.5.5 use default credentials when the web user interface is enabled. The administrator is not forced to change the default credentials. As of 4.5.5, this issue has not been fixed. A remote attacker can use the default credentials to authenticate and execute arbitrary operating system commands using the "external program" feature in the web user interface. This was reportedly exploited in the wild in March 2023.
References
- github.com/qbittorrent/qBittorrent/issues/18731 (opens in a new tab)
- vulncheck.com/advisories/qbittorrent-default-creds (opens in a new tab)
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/T5WXBKELVZFZNIDONIJESOCSRPIQNCGI/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U4BNFJR3ZWVLE2YSYIQYBWVDQBBZOLEL/ (opens in a new tab)