# CVE-2023-25573: Improper access control to download file in metersphere

> Unauthenticated attackers can download any file accessible to the application process due to missing access controls on a specific API endpoint.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 25 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mcwr-j9vm-5g8h

## What is CVE-2023-25573?

CVE-2023-25573 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in metersphere, published on 9 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

metersphere is an open source continuous testing platform. In affected versions an improper access control vulnerability exists in `/api/jmeter/download/files`, which allows any user to download any file without authentication. This issue may expose all files available to the running process. This issue has been addressed in version 1.20.20 lts and 2.7.1. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-25573?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Metersphere Metersphere.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-25573?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-25573 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-25573 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-25573 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Metersphere - Arbitrary File Read (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-25573.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in metersphere

- [CVE-2023-29944](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29944/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-45790](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45790/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-45788](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45788/): SQL injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-23512](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23512/): Metersphere is vulnerable to Path Injection. (high 7.7)
- [CVE-2022-46178](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-46178/): Path Traversal In MeterSpere allows file upload to any path (high 7.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-25573 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-25573 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in metersphere, published on 9 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-25573 exists.

Affected product: metersphere. 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-2023-25573/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25573/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-25573
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25573
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-25573

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25573/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.