CVE-2023-32521Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary file deletion via traversed temporary-file path

Published Jun 26, 2023 · Updated Dec 5, 2024

Path traversal in web_service.dll in Trend Micro Mobile Security for Enterprise 9.8 SP5 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files. The DLL treats a path containing its TEMP directory plus parent-directory segments as temporary, bypassing its deletion restriction. No authentication or user interaction is required, and deletion runs with the IIS Anonymous Authentication account's file permissions.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability66.81%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Path traversal in web_service.dll in Trend Micro Mobile Security for Enterprise 9.8 SP5 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files. The DLL treats a path containing its TEMP directory plus parent-directory segments as temporary, bypassing its deletion restriction. No authentication or user interaction is required, and deletion runs with the IIS Anonymous Authentication account's file permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32521
Published
Jun 26, 2023
Updated
Dec 5, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Mobile Security for Enterprise
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190, T1485
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 26, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=9.8 SP5 <9.8.3294

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Mobile Security for Enterpriseversion=9.8 SP5 <9.8.3294

Published CVSS scores

9.1Trend MicroCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
9.1TenableCVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1485Data Destruction

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo