Known exploited vulnerability
CVE-2023-40044
The short answer
CVE-2023-40044 affects Progress Software Corporation WS_FTP Server and is rated high (CVSS 8.8). CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-05: attackers are using it, so patch it first.
What it is
In WS_FTP Server versions prior to 8.7.4 and 8.8.2, a pre-authenticated attacker could leverage a .NET deserialization vulnerability in the Ad Hoc Transfer module to execute remote commands on the underlying WS_FTP Server operating system.
Weakness: CWE-502.
Severity
8.8 high
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploited (CISA KEV)
Yes, since Oct 5, 2023
Federal due date Oct 26, 2023
EPSS, next 30 days
90%
Higher than 100% of scored CVEs
How it can be exploited
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
What CISA says to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected products
WS_FTP Server. NVD's record lists the exact affected versions.
References
- attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044 Third Party Advisory
- censys.com/cve-2023-40044/ Third Party Advisory
- community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-September-2023 Vendor Advisory
- www.assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-iis-http-modules-cve-2023-40044 ExploitThird Party Advisory
- www.progress.com/ws_ftp Product
- www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws_ftp-server/ Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
- www.theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws_ftp_update/ Press/Media CoverageThird Party Advisory
- attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044 Third Party Advisory
- censys.com/cve-2023-40044/ Third Party Advisory
- community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-September-2023 Vendor Advisory
- www.assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-iis-http-modules-cve-2023-40044 ExploitThird Party Advisory
- www.progress.com/ws_ftp Product
Questions
Is CVE-2023-40044 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2023-40044 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-05, with a federal remediation due date of 2023-10-26. CISA lists it as used in ransomware campaigns.
How do I fix CVE-2023-40044?
CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
From NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS and OSV.dev, checked . Status on NVD: Analyzed. The description is NVD's text, quoted as published.
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