Remote code execution, often shortened to RCE, is a security flaw that lets an attacker run their own commands or programs on a computer or server that belongs to someone else. The attacker reaches the machine over a network, so they never need to be in the room. Picture a stranger who can call your office and, by saying the right words, make your file server do whatever they tell it.
These flaws are usually rated Critical or High on scales such as CVSS. An attacker who can run code can often take over the whole machine and the data on it.
Why it matters
Several AI servers and app builders tracked on this site have had flaws of this kind. Your organization may use an AI tool that runs on a server, either your own or a vendor’s. If that tool has an RCE flaw, donor records, emails and anything else stored on the server could be exposed. When you see RCE in one of our advisories, treat it as urgent: update the tool or switch it off until a fix is available. Ask your vendors how quickly they fix remote code execution flaws and how they tell customers. Related problems include path traversal and insecure deserialization.
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