# CVE-2023-41179: Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security Remote Code Execution

> An attacker with administrative console access can manipulate the AV uninstaller module to execute arbitrary commands on Trend Micro security products.

- **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:** Yes, since 21 Sep 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vq2c-8m6j-g4vh

## What is CVE-2023-41179?

CVE-2023-41179 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Trendmicro Apex One, published on 19 Sep 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the 3rd party AV uninstaller module contained in Trend Micro Apex One (on-prem and SaaS), Worry-Free Business Security and Worry-Free Business Security Services could allow an attacker to manipulate the module to execute arbitrary commands on an affected installation.

Note that an attacker must first obtain administrative console access on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-41179?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Trendmicro Apex One, Trendmicro Worry-Free Business Security, Trendmicro Worry-Free Business Security Services.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-41179?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-41179 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 12 Oct 2023.

## Is CVE-2023-41179 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-41179 in the wild since at least 21 Sep 2023.

## Other vulnerabilities in Trendmicro Apex One

- [CVE-2020-8599](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8599/): Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-54948](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-54948/): Trend Micro Apex One OS Command Injection (critical 9.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-36741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36741/): Trend Micro Multiple Products Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-8467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8467/): Trend Micro Apex One and OfficeScan Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-8468](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8468/): Trend Micro Multiple Products Content Validation Escape (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-41179 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-41179 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Trendmicro Apex One, published on 19 Sep 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-41179 in the wild since at least 21 Sep 2023.

Affected product: Trendmicro Apex One. 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-2023-41179/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-41179/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-41179
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41179
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-41179

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-41179/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.