Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-27372

RCE in Spip ≤ 3.2.18

Public PoCHigh EPSSRCEDeserialization
Published
28 February 2023
Modified
11 March 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.99 99.9th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-27372 is a critical-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Spip Spip. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

SPIP versions prior to 4.2.1 contain a remote code execution vulnerability stemming from improper handling of serialized data in form inputs processed within the public-facing area of the application. The flaw is tracked under CWE-502 and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, reflecting network-accessible exploitation without authentication or user interaction. Affected releases include all branches before the listed fixes of 3.2.18, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.1.

Unauthenticated attackers can submit crafted form values to trigger unsafe deserialization, resulting in arbitrary code execution on the server with the privileges of the web application process. This grants full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the SPIP instance and any hosted data or connected systems.

The SPIP project published a critical security advisory and corresponding Git commits that restore safe serialization handling; administrators are advised to upgrade immediately to one of the patched releases. Public exploit code has been posted to Packet Storm for both the original disclosure and subsequent variants.

The CVE maintains a very high EPSS score with a recorded peak of 0.9734, indicating sustained and widespread exploitation interest following public disclosure.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

SPIP before 4.2.1 allows Remote Code Execution via form values in the public area because serialization is mishandled. The fixed versions are 3.2.18, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.1.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-27475Same product: Spip Spip
CVE-2025-64512Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2025-49113Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2026-24765Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2021-42392Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-46604Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2019-17571Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-24258Same product: Spip Spip
CVE-2026-22206Same product: Spip Spip
CVE-2026-27472Same product: Spip Spip

Affected Assets

spip
spip
4.2.0 · ≤ 3.2.18 · 4.0.0 — 4.0.10 · 4.1.0 — 4.1.8
debian
debian linux
11.0

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-502

Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.

addresses: CWE-502

Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.

addresses: CWE-502

Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.

addresses: CWE-502

Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.

addresses: CWE-502

Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-02 none match
prevents

PR.PS-02 addresses only post-deployment updates/patching and cannot prevent introduction of unsafe deserialization code, yet it can remediate some instances when the flaw exists in outdated libraries or components.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing includes validation of deserialization routines and the use of untrusted data, reducing the likelihood that unsafe object reconstruction will be deployed.

prevents

Requiring vetted libraries, regular updates and SAST before release reduces the likelihood that deserialization logic will accept and act on attacker-controlled serialized objects.

finds

Regular scanning of third-party libraries and timely patching reduce the likelihood that unsafe deserialization vulnerabilities remain active.

none

Mandatory malware scanning of data received over networks or storage media intercepts malicious serialized payloads before they are deserialized by the target application.

References