CVE-2020-23653Network attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via unsafe PHP deserialization

Published Jan 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Unsafe deserialization in ThinkAdmin 4.0 through 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through crafted POST data. The Update.php controller passes the rules and ignore POST values directly to PHP unserialize(), while Push.php does the same with receive, allowing attacker-controlled objects to be instantiated. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation runs code in the web application's server context.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability4.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe deserialization in ThinkAdmin 4.0 through 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through crafted POST data. The Update.php controller passes the rules and ignore POST values directly to PHP unserialize(), while Push.php does the same with receive, allowing attacker-controlled objects to be instantiated. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation runs code in the web application's server context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-23653
Published
Jan 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-502, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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