Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-41998

Arcserve Udp ≤ 9.2

Public PoC
Published
27 November 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
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 0.15 96th percentile
Risk Priority 82 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-41998 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Arcserve Udp. 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 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.

Arcserve UDP versions prior to 9.2 contain an unrestricted file upload flaw in the com.ca.arcflash.rps.webservice.RPSService4CPMImpl interface, tracked as CVE-2023-41998 and assigned CWE-434. The issue permits an unauthenticated remote attacker to supply and execute arbitrary files on the affected backup server, resulting in a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8.

An attacker with network access can invoke the vulnerable routine to upload a malicious payload and trigger its execution, thereby obtaining full control over the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system without requiring credentials or user interaction.

The associated Tenable advisory at https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2023-37 provides further technical detail on the flaw. The EPSS score has remained flat at 0.1529 with no material increase observed since disclosure.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Arcserve UDP prior to 9.2 contained a vulnerability in the com.ca.arcflash.rps.webservice.RPSService4CPMImpl interface. A routine exists that allows an attacker to upload and execute arbitrary files.

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.
T1505 Server Software Component Persistence
Adversaries may abuse legitimate extensible development features of servers to establish persistent access to systems.
T1505.003 Web Shell Persistence
Adversaries may backdoor web servers with web shells to establish persistent access to systems.
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Control
Adversaries may transfer tools or other files from an external system into a compromised environment.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-0800Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2024-0801Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2023-42000Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2015-4068Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2023-41999Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2024-0799Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2025-34520Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2025-34521Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2025-34522Same product: Arcserve Udp
CVE-2025-34523Same product: Arcserve Udp

Affected Assets

arcserve
udp
≤ 9.2

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.1.1

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-434

Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.

addresses: CWE-434

Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.

addresses: CWE-434

Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.

addresses: CWE-434

Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.

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-05 mostly match
prevents

Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.

PR.PS-06 partial match
prevents

Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.

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

Configuration and acceptance testing verify that file-upload handling enforces allowed types and does not permit dangerous content to be stored or executed.

prevents

Secure-coding guidelines and security testing explicitly address restrictions on allowed file types and upload handling, reducing the risk that dangerous file uploads are accepted without validation.

prevents

Mandated testing for malicious content and known vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood that an outsourced component will contain or accept dangerous file types that could later be uploaded or executed.

mitigates

Application allow-listing and pre-use scanning of received files directly blocks the introduction of executable content that has not been vetted, eliminating the primary vector for unrestricted dangerous file uploads.

References