CVE-2023-46455Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated arbitrary file write via upload traversal

Published Dec 12, 2023 · Updated Aug 28, 2024

Path traversal in GL.iNet GL-AR300M firmware 4.3.7 allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary files through OpenVPN uploads. The /upload handler accepts a multipart path such as /tmp/ovpn_upload/../../etc/shadow and writes the supplied file outside the upload directory without restricting traversal segments. A valid administrative session token is required; the published exploit replaces /etc/shadow, permitting control of the router root account.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability46.97%
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 GL.iNet GL-AR300M firmware 4.3.7 allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary files through OpenVPN uploads. The /upload handler accepts a multipart path such as /tmp/ovpn_upload/../../etc/shadow and writes the supplied file outside the upload directory without restricting traversal segments. A valid administrative session token is required; the published exploit replaces /etc/shadow, permitting control of the router root account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-46455
Published
Dec 12, 2023
Updated
Aug 28, 2024
Vendor
GL.iNet
Product
GL-AR300M
Classifications
CWE-22, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 28, 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=4.3.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GL.iNet · GL-AR300Mversion=4.3.7

Published CVSS scores

7.2cyberaz0rCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/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.

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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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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