# CVE-2023-42121: Control Web Panel Missing Authentication Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on Control Web Panel installations without authentication due to missing authorization checks.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/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:** 3 May 2024
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m2qh-hm8j-fx8m

## What is CVE-2023-42121?

CVE-2023-42121 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Control-Webpanel Webpanel, published on 3 May 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Control Web Panel Missing Authentication Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Control Web Panel. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the implementation of authentication within the web interface. The issue results from the lack of authentication prior to allowing access to functionality. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of a valid CWP user. Was ZDI-CAN-20582.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-42121?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Control-Webpanel Webpanel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-42121?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-42121 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-42121 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Control-Webpanel Webpanel

- [CVE-2022-44877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44877/): CWP Control Web Panel OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48703](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48703/): CWP Control Web Panel OS Command Injection (critical 9.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-45466](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45466/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-45467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45467/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-25046](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-25046/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-42121 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-42121 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Control-Webpanel Webpanel, published on 3 May 2024. 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-2023-42121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Control-Webpanel Webpanel. 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-2023-42121/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42121/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-42121
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42121
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-42121

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42121/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.