CVE-2023-4931

Code execution via installer DLL search order

Published Nov 27, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

DLL search-order hijacking in Plesk Installer 3.27.0.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through a planted DLL. The Windows installer searches its launch directory for named system DLLs and loads an attacker-controlled file placed there. Exploitation requires local write access to that directory and user interaction to start the installer, after which the DLL runs in the installer's security context.

CVSS severity6.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL search-order hijacking in Plesk Installer 3.27.0.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through a planted DLL. The Windows installer searches its launch directory for named system DLLs and loads an attacker-controlled file placed there. Exploitation requires local write access to that directory and user interaction to start the installer, after which the DLL runs in the installer's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4931
Published
Nov 27, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Plesk
Product
Plesk Installer
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 27, 2023CVE 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=3.27.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Plesk · Plesk Installerversion=3.27.0.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.3Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute, S.A. (INCIBE)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001Hijack Execution Flow: DLL

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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