Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-52044

CriticalPublic PoC

Published: 31 October 2024

Published
31 October 2024
Modified
17 April 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0255 85.8th percentile
Risk Priority 21 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2023-52044 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Std42 Elfinder. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Web Shell (T1505.003); ranked in the top 14.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Studio-42 eLfinder 2.1.62 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) as there is no restriction for uploading files with the .php8 extension.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1505.003 Web Shell Persistence
Adversaries may backdoor web servers with web shells to establish persistent access to systems.
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.
Why these techniques?

The vulnerability enables unrestricted upload of .php8 files containing PHP code, which executes as a web shell in certain server configurations, facilitating exploitation of public-facing web applications and web shell deployment for execution and persistence.

Affected Assets

std42
elfinder
2.1.62

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.

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.

References