# CVE-2023-51444: GeoServer arbitrary file upload vulnerability in REST Coverage Store API > Authenticated administrators can upload arbitrary files to arbitrary locations via the REST API, leading to remote code execution or privilege escalation. - **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:** Yes - **Published:** 20 Mar 2024 - **Updated:** 21 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** GHSA-9v5q-2gwq-q9hq ## What is CVE-2023-51444? CVE-2023-51444 is a high-severity vulnerability in geoserver, published on 20 Mar 2024. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim. ### Official description GeoServer is an open source software server written in Java that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. An arbitrary file upload vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.23.4 and 2.24.1 that enables an authenticated administrator with permissions to modify coverage stores through the REST Coverage Store API to upload arbitrary file contents to arbitrary file locations which can lead to remote code execution. Coverage stores that are configured using relative paths use a GeoServer Resource implementation that has validation to prevent path traversal but coverage stores that are configured using absolute paths use a different Resource implementation that does not prevent path traversal. This vulnerability can lead to executing arbitrary code. An administrator with limited privileges could also potentially exploit this to overwrite GeoServer security files and obtain full administrator privileges. Versions 2.23.4 and 2.24.1 contain a fix for this issue. Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-51444? 8 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.geoserver:gs-platform and org.geoserver:gs-restconfig. It affects 1 product. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `org.geoserver:gs-platform` | Maven | All versions | 2.23.4 | | `org.geoserver:gs-platform` | Maven | All versions | 2.23.4 | | `org.geoserver:gs-platform` | Maven | From 2.24.0 | 2.24.1 | | `org.geoserver:gs-platform` | Maven | From 2.24.0 | 2.24.1 | | `org.geoserver:gs-restconfig` | Maven | All versions | 2.23.4 | | `org.geoserver:gs-restconfig` | Maven | All versions | 2.23.4 | | `org.geoserver:gs-restconfig` | Maven | From 2.24.0 | 2.24.1 | | `org.geoserver:gs-restconfig` | Maven | From 2.24.0 | 2.24.1 | Products: Geoserver Geoserver. ## How do I fix CVE-2023-51444? Upgrade org.geoserver:gs-platform to a fixed version for your release line: 2.23.4 or 2.24.1. ## Is CVE-2023-51444 being exploited? It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-51444 exists. Public exploit code: - https://github.com/iPlayForSG/CVE-2023-51444 (github_poc): https://github.com/iPlayForSG/CVE-2023-51444 ## Other vulnerabilities in geoserver - [CVE-2024-36401](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-36401/): OSGeo GeoServer GeoTools Eval Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-58360](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-58360/): OSGeo GeoServer Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (high 8.2, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2023-35042](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35042/): GeoServer RCE due to improper control of generation of code in jai-ext`Jiffle` map algebra language (critical 9.8) - [CVE-2024-24749](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-24749/): Classpath resource disclosure in GWC Web Resource API on Windows / Tomcat (high 7.5) - [CVE-2023-41877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-41877/): GeoServer log file path traversal vulnerability (high 7.2) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2023-51444 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2023-51444 is a high-severity vulnerability in geoserver, published on 20 Mar 2024. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-51444 exists. Affected packages and fixed versions: - org.geoserver:gs-platform (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.23.4 - org.geoserver:gs-platform (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.23.4 - org.geoserver:gs-platform (Maven): affected from 2.24.0; fixed in 2.24.1 - org.geoserver:gs-platform (Maven): affected from 2.24.0; fixed in 2.24.1 - org.geoserver:gs-restconfig (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.23.4 - org.geoserver:gs-restconfig (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.23.4 - org.geoserver:gs-restconfig (Maven): affected from 2.24.0; fixed in 2.24.1 - org.geoserver:gs-restconfig (Maven): affected from 2.24.0; fixed in 2.24.1 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-2023-51444/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51444/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-51444 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51444 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-51444 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51444/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.