# CVE-2023-32540: Code injection in WebAccess/SCADA

> Attackers can overwrite arbitrary files and inject code into XLS files in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA, leading to arbitrary code execution.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Jun 2023
- **Updated:** 8 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g8xw-m45c-jphf

## What is CVE-2023-32540?

CVE-2023-32540 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA, published on 5 Jun 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Advantech WebAccss/SCADA v9.1.3 and prior, there is an arbitrary file overwrite vulnerability, which could allow an attacker to overwrite any file in the operating system (including system files), inject code into an XLS file, and modify the file extension, which could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-32540?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Advantech Webaccess\/Scada.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-32540?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-32540 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-32540 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-32540 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA

- [CVE-2023-1437](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1437/): CVE-2023-1437 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32943](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32943/): Memory corruption in WebAccess/SCADA (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-6519](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6519/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-6523](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6523/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-22669](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22669/): Privilege escalation in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-32540 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-32540 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA, published on 5 Jun 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-32540 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Advantech WebAccess/SCADA. 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-2023-32540/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32540/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-32540
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32540
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-32540

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32540/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.