CVE-2023-45303Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via unsafe FreeMarker templates

Published Oct 6, 2023 · Updated Sep 19, 2024

Server-side template injection in ThingsBoard before 3.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute operating system commands. The mail-template settings endpoint accepts attacker-controlled FreeMarker syntax, and mail rendering instantiates freemarker.template.utility.Execute to fork a process and embed its output. Access to modify email templates and trigger mail generation is required, after which commands run on the underlying server with the application's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Server-side template injection in ThingsBoard before 3.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute operating system commands. The mail-template settings endpoint accepts attacker-controlled FreeMarker syntax, and mail rendering instantiates freemarker.template.utility.Execute to fork a process and embed its output. Access to modify email templates and trigger mail generation is required, after which commands run on the underlying server with the application's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45303
Published
Oct 6, 2023
Updated
Sep 19, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-74, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 19, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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