CVE-2023-40044

Progress Software Corporation WS_FTP Server

Published 27 Sept 2023 · updated 17 Jun 2026 · Analyzed

8.8 High · CVSS 3.1, NVD

Exploited in the wild

CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 5 Oct 2023, with a remediation deadline of 26 Oct 2023 for US federal agencies. It has been used in ransomware campaigns.

Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

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.

References

packetstormsecurity.com/files/174917/Progress-Software-WS_FTP-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html · Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044 · Third Party Advisory
censys.com/cve-2023-40044/ · Third Party Advisory
community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-September-2023 · Vendor Advisory
www.assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-iis-http-modules-cve-2023-40044 · Exploit, Third Party Advisory
www.progress.com/ws_ftp · Product
www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws_ftp-server/ · Broken Link, Third Party Advisory
www.theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws_ftp_update/ · Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-40044 · US Government Resource