CVE-2023-39469
Published: 03 May 2024
Summary
CVE-2023-39469 is a high-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Papercut Papercut Mf. Its CVSS base score is 7.2 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 4.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2023-39469 is a remote code execution vulnerability in PaperCut NG stemming from improper validation of a user-supplied string within the External User Lookup functionality. The flaw permits the string to be used directly for Java code execution, classified under CWE-94, and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.2 reflecting network-accessible attack with high-privilege requirements but full system impact.
An authenticated remote attacker can supply a crafted string to the External User Lookup feature and achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the SYSTEM account on affected PaperCut NG installations.
Public advisories from PaperCut and Zero Day Initiative detail the issue as ZDI-CAN-21013 and direct administrators to the July 2023 security bulletin for patch and mitigation guidance. The associated EPSS score rose materially from lower values to a peak of 0.6029 on 2025-12-11 before receding to the current 0.1658, indicating a period of heightened exploitation interest after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-43192
Vulnerability details
PaperCut NG External User Lookup Code Injection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PaperCut NG. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the External…
more
User Lookup functionality. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied string before using it to execute Java code. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-21013.
- 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.
Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.
Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.
Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.
Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.