# CVE-2023-40045: WS_FTP Server Ad Hoc Transfer Module Reflected Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

> Attackers can execute malicious JavaScript in victims' browsers via reflected XSS in the Ad Hoc Transfer module of WS_FTP Server.

- **Severity:** High 8.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 27 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 24 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6mm6-4c6x-2xpr

## What is CVE-2023-40045?

CVE-2023-40045 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Progress Software Corporation WS_FTP Server, published on 27 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In WS_FTP Server versions prior to 8.7.4 and 8.8.2,

 a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in WS_FTP Server's Ad Hoc Transfer module.  An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to target WS_FTP Server users with a specialized payload which results in the execution of malicious JavaScript within the context of the victims browser.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-40045?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Progress Ws Ftp Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-40045?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-40045 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-40045 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40045 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Progress Software Corporation WS_FTP Server

- [CVE-2023-40044](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40044/): Progress WS_FTP Server Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-42657](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42657/): WS_FTP Server Directory Traversal (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2023-42659](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42659/): WS_FTP Server Arbitrary File Upload (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2008-0590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-0590/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2023-40047](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40047/): WS_FTP Server Stored Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability (high 8.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-40045 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-40045 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Progress Software Corporation WS_FTP Server, published on 27 Sep 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40045 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Progress Software Corporation WS_FTP Server. 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-2023-40045/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40045/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40045
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40045
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-40045

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40045/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.