CVE-2023-42232
Published: 13 January 2025
Summary
CVE-2023-42232 is a high-severity Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in Zucchetti Helpdeskadvanced. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 24.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SC-7 (Boundary Protection) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2023-42232 is a directory traversal vulnerability affecting Pat Infinite Solutions HelpdeskAdvanced versions up to and including 11.0.33. The flaw exists in the Navigator/Index function, allowing attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5, rated as high severity due to its network accessibility, low attack complexity, lack of required privileges or user interaction, and significant confidentiality impact.
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network with low complexity and no privileges needed. Successful exploitation enables reading arbitrary files on the server, potentially exposing sensitive information such as configuration files, user data, or system details, though it does not impact integrity or availability.
Advisories reference a CVE list entry at https://gitlab.com/daniele_m/cve-list/-/blob/main/README.md, which documents the issue but provides no specific patch or mitigation details in the available information.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-46691
Vulnerability details
Pat Infinite Solutions HelpdeskAdvanced <= 11.0.33 is vulnerable to Directory Traversal via the Navigator/Index function.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Directory traversal in unauthenticated public-facing web app directly enables remote exploitation (T1190) and arbitrary local file reads (T1005).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly remediates the directory traversal vulnerability in HelpdeskAdvanced Navigator/Index function by identifying, testing, and installing patches or updates.
Validates inputs to the Navigator/Index function to block directory traversal sequences like '../', preventing unauthorized file access.
Implements boundary protection such as web application firewalls to monitor and block network-based directory traversal attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint.