# CVE-2023-32521: Path traversal in Trend Micro Moibile Security for Enterprise

> An unauthenticated remote attacker can delete arbitrary files via a path traversal vulnerability in Trend Micro Mobile Security for Enterprise.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Jun 2023
- **Updated:** 5 Dec 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x5xh-gggv-pm5m

## What is CVE-2023-32521?

CVE-2023-32521 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Trend Micro Moibile Security for Enterprise, published on 26 Jun 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A path traversal exists in a specific service dll of Trend Micro Mobile Security (Enterprise) 9.8 SP5 which could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to delete arbitrary files.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-32521?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Trendmicro Mobile Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-32521?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-32521 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-32521 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-32521 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Trend Micro Moibile Security for Enterprise

- [CVE-2019-19690](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-19690/): Security feature bypass in Trend Micro Mobile Security for Android (Consumer) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-14078](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14078/): SQL injection in Mobile Security (Enterprise) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-14080](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14080/): Auth bypass in Mobile Security (Enterprise) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-40980](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40980/): Missing authorization in Trend Micro Mobile Security for Enterprise (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-32523](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32523/): Auth bypass in Trend Micro Moibile Security for Enterprise (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-32521 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-32521 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Trend Micro Moibile Security for Enterprise, published on 26 Jun 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-2023-32521 exists.

Affected product: Trend Micro Moibile Security for Enterprise. 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-2023-32521/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32521/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-32521
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32521
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-32521

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32521/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.