Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2023-39143 is a critical-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Papercut Papercut Mf. 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 0.4% 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.
CVE-2023-39143 is a path traversal vulnerability affecting PaperCut NG and PaperCut MF versions prior to 22.1.3 running on Windows. The flaw, tracked under CWE-22, permits unauthorized upload, read, or deletion of arbitrary files on the server and can result in remote code execution when the commonly enabled external device integration feature is active. It carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8.
Unauthenticated attackers with network access can exploit the issue to achieve full compromise of the affected PaperCut installation, including arbitrary file operations that lead to code execution. No user interaction or credentials are required, and the attack surface is exposed by default in typical deployments.
Vendor guidance from PaperCut directs administrators to upgrade immediately to version 22.1.3 or later. Horizon3 research publications provide additional technical details on the flaw and recommended defensive steps.
The vulnerability maintains a high EPSS score with a recorded peak of 0.9209 and current value of 0.8818, indicating sustained exploitation interest following disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-42884
Vulnerability Data
PaperCut NG and PaperCut MF before 22.1.3 on Windows allow path traversal, enabling attackers to upload, read, or delete arbitrary files. This leads to remote code execution when external device integration is enabled (a very common configuration).
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
Threat-Actor AttributionAI
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
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Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.3.2
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.
Validates pathnames and filenames to prevent traversal outside intended directories.
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.
Patching/maintenance can remediate known path-traversal flaws in deployed software (partial prevention of exploitability) but does nothing to stop the coding defect from being introduced in the first place.
PR.AA-05 defines and reviews access policies but does not address code-level pathname neutralization, so neither direction prevents CWE-22.
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.
Security testing in development catches path traversal via static/dynamic analysis.
Secure SDLC mandates input validation and path sanitization that directly prevent path traversal.
Application security requirements include rules for safe file handling and canonicalization.
Secure architecture principles require least-privilege file access and directory isolation.
Secure coding standards explicitly forbid unsafe path construction and mandate safe APIs.
Information access restriction limits which files an application may read or write.