CVE-2023-37460Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary file creation via dangling symlink overwrite

Published Jul 25, 2023 · Updated Oct 3, 2024

Path traversal in Codehaus Plexus Plexus Archiver before 4.8.0 allows attackers to create arbitrary files via crafted archive entries. AbstractUnArchiver validates a dangling symlink by its in-directory source path, then Files.newOutputStream follows the link and writes the entry to its target. Exploitation requires extraction of an untrusted archive into a directory containing the attacker-chosen dangling link; the resulting file write can enable code execution.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability2.48%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Codehaus Plexus Plexus Archiver before 4.8.0 allows attackers to create arbitrary files via crafted archive entries. AbstractUnArchiver validates a dangling symlink by its in-directory source path, then Files.newOutputStream follows the link and writes the entry to its target. Exploitation requires extraction of an untrusted archive into a directory containing the attacker-chosen dangling link; the resulting file write can enable code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-37460
Published
Jul 25, 2023
Updated
Oct 3, 2024
Vendor
Codehaus Plexus
Product
Plexus Archiver
Classifications
CWE-61, CWE-22, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 25, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 3, 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=0 <4.8.0
  2. Affected versionversion=< 4.8.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Codehaus Plexus · Plexus Archiverversion=0 <4.8.0; version=< 4.8.0

Published CVSS scores

8.1GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS: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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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