Description
In WS_FTP Server versions prior to 8.7.4 and 8.8.2, a pre-authenticated attacker could leverage a .NET deserialization vulnerability in the Ad Hoc Transfer module to execute remote commands on the underlying WS_FTP Server operating system.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progress Software | WS_FTP Server | 8.8.0 – < 8.8.2, 8.7.0 – < 8.7.4 | 8.8.2 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Progress Software WS_FTP Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution
exploit/windows/http/ws_ftp_rce_cve_2023_40044
GitHub 1 repository
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kenbuckler/WS_FTP-CVE-2023-40044 ★ 1 · Oct 2, 2023
Analysis of WS_FTP CVE
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Automated scanner template
A ready-made Nuclei template detects this vulnerability automatically. Vulnerabilities with public scanner templates are typically probed across the internet soon after the template appears — exposed systems should be patched first.
- WS_FTP Server - Insecure Deserialization http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-40044.yaml
Source: projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates (MIT) — updated daily. Only links are listed.
Advisories 1
- WID-SEC-2023-2506 Progress Software WS_FTP: Mehre Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 3, 2023
References
- https://www.progress.com/ws_ftp product
- https://community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-September-2023 vendor-advisory
- https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws_ftp_update/
- https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws_ftp-server/
- https://attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044
- https://censys.com/cve-2023-40044/
- https://www.assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-iis-http-modules-cve-2023-40044
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174917/Progress-Software-WS_FTP-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html