# CVE-2023-3533: Chamilo LMS Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Arbitrary File Write

> Unauthenticated attackers can exploit path traversal in file uploads to write arbitrary files, leading to remote code execution and stored XSS.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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:** 28 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-28gg-m25v-q74w

## What is CVE-2023-3533?

CVE-2023-3533 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Chamilo, published on 28 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Path traversal in file upload functionality in `/main/webservices/additional_webservices.php` in Chamilo LMS <= v1.11.20 allows unauthenticated attackers to perform stored cross-site scripting attacks and obtain remote code execution via arbitrary file write.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-3533?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Chamilo Chamilo.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-3533?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-3533 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-3533 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-3533 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Chamilo

- [CVE-2023-3368](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3368/): Chamilo LMS Unauthenticated Command Injection (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-3545](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3545/): Chamilo LMS Htaccess File Upload Security Bypass (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-34960](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34960/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-34187](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34187/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-42029](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-42029/): File upload in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-3533 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-3533 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Chamilo, published on 28 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-3533 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Chamilo. 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-2023-3533/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3533/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-3533
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3533
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-3533

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3533/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.