# CVE-2023-21417: Path traversal in AXIS OS

> Authenticated attackers can delete files via path traversal in the VAPIX API, requiring patched AXIS OS versions.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 11 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-967w-79j9-vx4x

## What is CVE-2023-21417?

CVE-2023-21417 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in AXIS OS, published on 21 Nov 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Sandro Poppi, member of the AXIS OS Bug Bounty Program,

has found that the VAPIX API manageoverlayimage.cgi was vulnerable to path traversal attacks that allows for file/folder deletion. This flaw can only be exploited after authenticating with an operator- or administrator- privileged service account. The impact of exploiting this vulnerability is lower with operator service accounts and limited to non-system files compared to administrator-privileges.
 Axis has released patched AXIS OS versions for the highlighted flaw. Please refer to the Axis security advisory for more information and solution.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-35 (Path Traversal: '.../...//')

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-21417?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Axis Axis Os, Axis Axis Os 2020, Axis Axis Os 2022.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-21417?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-21417 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-21417 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21417 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in AXIS OS

- [CVE-2025-0324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-0324/): Privilege escalation in AXIS OS (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2023-21413](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21413/): Remote code execution vulnerability during the installation of ACAP applications on the Axis device (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2025-0358](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-0358/): Privilege escalation in AXIS OS (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-31988](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31988/): Other in AXIS OS (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-0359](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-0359/): Missing authorization in AXIS OS (high 8.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-21417 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-21417 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in AXIS OS, published on 21 Nov 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21417 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: AXIS OS. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21417/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21417/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21417
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21417
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21417

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21417/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.