CVE-2023-42130
Path Traversal in A10Networks Advanced Core Operating System 5.1.0 – 5.2.1
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2023-42130 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in A10Networks Advanced Core Operating System. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 20% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
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-2023-42130 is a directory traversal vulnerability in the FileMgmtExport class of A10 Thunder ADC that permits arbitrary file read and deletion. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied paths before they are used in file operations, and it carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 with CWE-22.
Authenticated remote attackers can exploit the issue to read or delete arbitrary files on affected installations in the context of the service account. No unauthenticated access vector is described.
A10 Networks has published a security advisory for the file-access vulnerability, available alongside the Zero Day Initiative disclosure at the referenced URLs. The EPSS score has remained at 0.1131 with no material increase after disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-46589
Vulnerability Data
A10 Thunder ADC FileMgmtExport Directory Traversal Arbitrary File Read and Deletion Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to read and delete arbitrary files on affected installations of A10 Thunder ADC. Authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw…
more
exists within the FileMgmtExport class. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to read and delete files in the context of the service account. . Was ZDI-CAN-17905.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.3.2
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Enforces the intended directory access authorizations that path traversal would otherwise bypass.
Input validation directly neutralizes special path elements before pathname construction occurs.
Least privilege reduces the impact of any unauthorized file access obtained via traversal.
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.