CVE-2023-51661Public exploit

Host filesystem access via implicit working-directory mapping

Published Dec 22, 2023 · Updated Apr 17, 2025

Improper access control in Wasmer 3.0.0 through 4.2.3 allows local users to read or write host files through untrusted Wasm code. The CLI opens its current working directory to a WASI module by default, even when no --dir mapping authorizes host filesystem access. Exploitation requires executing attacker-controlled Wasm locally or through a service, with file access limited by the Wasmer process's host permissions.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.60%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Wasmer 3.0.0 through 4.2.3 allows local users to read or write host files through untrusted Wasm code. The CLI opens its current working directory to a WASI module by default, even when no --dir mapping authorizes host filesystem access. Exploitation requires executing attacker-controlled Wasm locally or through a service, with file access limited by the Wasmer process's host permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-51661
Published
Dec 22, 2023
Updated
Apr 17, 2025
Vendor
Wasmer
Product
Wasmer
Classifications
CWE-284, T1611
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 17, 2025Record 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=>= 3.0.0, < 4.2.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Wasmer · Wasmerversion=>= 3.0.0, < 4.2.4

Published CVSS scores

8.4GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1611Escape to Host

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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