CVE-2023-2989Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authentication bypass via unvalidated compressed-message lengths

Published Jun 22, 2023 · Updated Dec 5, 2024

Out-of-bounds read in Fortra Globalscape EFT 8.0.0 through 8.1.0.14 allows remote attackers to bypass administration authentication. The compressed-message path inflates packets without validating embedded message and parameter lengths, causing the parser to read beyond its receive buffer. Exploitation requires access to the administration port, repeated attempts shortly after an administrator logs in, and a correct heap-offset guess; malformed attempts can crash the service.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability0.97%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds read in Fortra Globalscape EFT 8.0.0 through 8.1.0.14 allows remote attackers to bypass administration authentication. The compressed-message path inflates packets without validating embedded message and parameter lengths, causing the parser to read beyond its receive buffer. Exploitation requires access to the administration port, repeated attempts shortly after an administrator logs in, and a correct heap-offset guess; malformed attempts can crash the service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-2989
Published
Jun 22, 2023
Updated
Dec 5, 2024
Vendor
Fortra
Product
Globalscape EFT
Classifications
CWE-125, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 5, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=8.0.0 <8.1.0.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortra · Globalscape EFTversion=8.0.0 <8.1.0.16

Published CVSS scores

9.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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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