CVE-2023-0089

Admin code execution via webutils Perl eval

Published Mar 8, 2023 · Updated Feb 28, 2025

Eval injection in unpatched Proofpoint Enterprise Protection 8.20.0 and earlier allows local users with high privileges to execute arbitrary code. The webutils component dynamically evaluates attacker-controlled Perl content without neutralizing executable syntax. The vendor's vector limits access to a local, high-privilege context; execution can read or alter appliance data and interrupt service.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.74%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Eval injection in unpatched Proofpoint Enterprise Protection 8.20.0 and earlier allows local users with high privileges to execute arbitrary code. The webutils component dynamically evaluates attacker-controlled Perl content without neutralizing executable syntax. The vendor's vector limits access to a local, high-privilege context; execution can read or alter appliance data and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0089
Published
Mar 8, 2023
Updated
Feb 28, 2025
Vendor
Proofpoint
Product
Proofpoint Enterprise Protection
Classifications
CWE-95, CAPEC-35, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=8.* <=8.20.0 changes=[{"at":"8.20.0 patch 4570","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"8.18.6 patch 4568","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"8.18.4 patch 4567","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"8.13.22 patch 4566","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Proofpoint · Proofpoint Enterprise Protectionversion=8.* <=8.20.0 changes=[{"at":"8.20.0 patch 4570","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"8.18.6 patch 4568","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"8.18.4 patch 4567","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"8.13.22 patch 4566","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

8.8ProofpointCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-95Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code ('Eval Injection')
CAPEC-35Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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