CVE-2023-40494Network attack vector

Arbitrary file deletion via unchecked folder path

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Sep 18, 2024

Path traversal in LG Simple Editor 3.21.0 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files through the deleteFolder method. deleteFolder uses a user-supplied path in file operations without validating that it remains within an allowed directory. No authentication or user interaction is required, and deletion occurs with SYSTEM privileges, permitting loss of application or host files.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability83.14%
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 LG Simple Editor 3.21.0 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files through the deleteFolder method. deleteFolder uses a user-supplied path in file operations without validating that it remains within an allowed directory. No authentication or user interaction is required, and deletion occurs with SYSTEM privileges, permitting loss of application or host files.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-40494
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Sep 18, 2024
Vendor
LG Electronics
Product
LG Simple Editor
Classifications
CWE-22, T1222.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 18, 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 <3.21.0
  2. Affected versionversion=LG Simple Editor 3.21.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

LG Electronics · LG Simple Editorversion=0 <3.21.0; version=LG Simple Editor 3.21.0

Published CVSS scores

8.2Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1222.001File and Directory Permissions Modification

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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