Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-50623

Cleo Harmony ≤ 5.8.0.21

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedRansomware-linked
Published
28 October 2024
Modified
31 July 2026
KEV Added
13 December 2024
Patch / advisory
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 0.99 99.9th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2024-50623 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Cleo Harmony. 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 0.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-3 (Malicious Code Protection) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — 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.

Cleo Harmony, VLTrader, and LexiCom versions prior to 5.8.0.21 contain an unrestricted file upload and download flaw tracked as CVE-2024-50623. The issue stems from missing validation on file types and paths during transfer operations, allowing arbitrary files to be placed on or retrieved from the affected system and directly enabling remote code execution.

An unauthenticated attacker with network access can upload a malicious executable or script, then trigger its execution through the application or underlying operating system, achieving full control over the target host. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8, reflecting that no credentials or user interaction are required.

Cleo’s security advisory recommends immediate upgrade to version 5.8.0.21 or later for all three products. CISA has added the CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild.

The associated EPSS score has reached a peak of 0.9694 with a current value of 0.9401, indicating sustained and widespread exploitation interest since disclosure.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

In Cleo Harmony before 5.8.0.21, VLTrader before 5.8.0.21, and LexiCom before 5.8.0.21, there is an unrestricted file upload and download that could lead to remote code execution.

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
13 December 2024

Related Threats

Threat-Actor AttributionAI

Cl0paka Clop
CISA KEV lists CVE-2024-50623 under known ransomware exploitation; public reporting attributes mass exploitation of the Cleo zero-day to the Cl0p group.

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-2024-55956Same product: Cleo Harmonyboth on KEV
CVE-2026-28270Same product class: managed file transfer
CVE-2026-23636Same product class: managed file transfer
CVE-2020-13671Shared CWE-434both on KEV
CVE-2017-11357Shared CWE-434both on KEV
CVE-2025-52691Shared CWE-434both on KEV
CVE-2026-56290Shared CWE-434both on KEV
CVE-2020-8260Shared CWE-434both on KEV
CVE-2016-3088Shared CWE-434both on KEV
CVE-2021-26828Shared CWE-434both on KEV

Affected Assets

cleo
harmony
≤ 5.8.0.21
cleo
lexicom
≤ 5.8.0.21
cleo
vltrader
≤ 5.8.0.21

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

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Malicious-code protection at entry points blocks dangerous file types from being accepted and executed.

Least functionality restricts the file types and automatic processing capabilities the system will accept.

SC-18 Mobile Code partial match

Mobile-code controls define, authorize, and block unacceptable uploaded code before automatic processing occurs.

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