CVE-2023-38012Network attack vector

Unauthenticated arbitrary-file read via path traversal

Published Jan 25, 2025 · Updated Jan 27, 2025

Path traversal in IBM Cloud Pak System allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via crafted URL requests containing dot-dot sequences. The affected request handling fails to restrict dot-dot path segments to the intended directory; IBM has not identified the specific endpoint or code path. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful requests disclose file contents without changing or interrupting the system.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.50%
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 IBM Cloud Pak System allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via crafted URL requests containing dot-dot sequences. The affected request handling fails to restrict dot-dot path segments to the intended directory; IBM has not identified the specific endpoint or code path. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful requests disclose file contents without changing or interrupting the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38012
Published
Jan 25, 2025
Updated
Jan 27, 2025
Vendor
IBM
Product
Cloud Pak System
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 25, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 27, 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=2.3.3.6, 2.3.3.6 iFix1, 2.3.3.6 iFix2, 2.3.3.7, 2.3.3.7 iFix1, 2.3.4.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · Cloud Pak Systemversion=2.3.3.6, 2.3.3.6 iFix1, 2.3.3.6 iFix2, 2.3.3.7, 2.3.3.7 iFix1, 2.3.4.0

Published CVSS scores

5.3IBMCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

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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