CVE-2023-38098
Published: 03 May 2024
Summary
CVE-2023-38098 is a high-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Netgear Prosafe Network Management System. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 1.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2023-38098 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability in the UpLoadServlet class of NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied data, enabling arbitrary file uploads that result in remote code execution. It carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 and is tracked under CWE-434.
Remote attackers can exploit the issue to run arbitrary code in the context of the SYSTEM account. Although the vulnerability requires authentication, the existing mechanism can be bypassed, allowing unauthenticated access to the upload functionality over the network.
NETGEAR has published a security advisory (PSV-2023-0024) detailing multiple vulnerabilities in the ProSAFE Network Management System and providing remediation guidance. The Zero Day Initiative also released advisory ZDI-23-918 on the same issue. The associated EPSS score reached a peak of 0.7936 in December 2025 before receding to its current value of 0.7441, indicating sustained exploitation interest following disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-41924
Vulnerability details
NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System UpLoadServlet Unrestricted File Upload Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System. Although authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability, the…
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existing authentication mechanism can be bypassed. The specific flaw exists within the UpLoadServlet class. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can allow the upload of arbitrary files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-19720.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
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.
Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.
Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.
Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.
Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.