CVE-2023-44451

Code execution via unchecked EPUB extraction paths

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Path traversal in Linux Mint Xreader 3.8.2 allows remote attackers to execute code by convincing a user to open a crafted EPUB file. The EPUB backend's extract_one_file function builds output paths from archive entry names and creates files without confirming that their resolved locations remain inside the temporary extraction directory. Opening the file is required, after which entries containing traversal paths write outside that directory and enable code execution with the current user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.77%
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 Linux Mint Xreader 3.8.2 allows remote attackers to execute code by convincing a user to open a crafted EPUB file. The EPUB backend's extract_one_file function builds output paths from archive entry names and creates files without confirming that their resolved locations remain inside the temporary extraction directory. Opening the file is required, after which entries containing traversal paths write outside that directory and enable code execution with the current user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-44451
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Linux Mint
Product
Xreader
Classifications
CWE-22, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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=3.8.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Linux Mint · Xreaderversion=3.8.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1204.002Malicious File

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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