CVE-2023-33945Network attack vector

Arbitrary SQL execution via primary-key index name

Published May 24, 2023 · Updated Oct 22, 2024

SQL injection in the SQL Server upgrade process for Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. The upgrade logic incorporates a database table's primary-key index name into an SQL command without neutralizing SQL syntax. Exploitation requires another attack to modify the database before an administrator starts an upgrade, so ordinary runtime requests do not trigger the flaw.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.55%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

SQL injection in the SQL Server upgrade process for Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. The upgrade logic incorporates a database table's primary-key index name into an SQL command without neutralizing SQL syntax. Exploitation requires another attack to modify the database before an administrator starts an upgrade, so ordinary runtime requests do not trigger the flaw.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-33945
Published
May 24, 2023
Updated
Oct 22, 2024
Vendor
Liferay
Product
Liferay Portal
Classifications
CWE-89
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 24, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 22, 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=7.3.1 <=7.4.3.17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Liferay · Liferay Portalversion=7.3.1 <=7.4.3.17
Liferay · Liferay DXPversion=7.3.10 <=7.3.10.u5; version=7.4.13 <=7.4.13.u17

Published CVSS scores

8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.4Liferay Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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