# CVE-2023-52251: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via the q parameter in Kafka UI, requiring immediate mitigation due to lack of official fixes.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 8 Sep 2026

## What is CVE-2023-52251?

CVE-2023-52251 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 25 Jan 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue discovered in provectus kafka-ui 0.4.0 through 0.7.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the q parameter of /api/clusters/local/topics/{topic}/messages. No fixed release is available; the project has had no commit since 2024-04-08.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-52251?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Provectus Ui.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-52251?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-52251 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-52251 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-52251 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2023-52251 There is a Remote Code Execution vulnerability provectus/kafka-ui. (github_poc): https://github.com/BobTheShoplifter/CVE-2023-52251-POC
- Kafka UI Unauthenticated Remote Command Execution via the Groovy Filter option. (metasploit)
- Kafka UI 0.7.1 Command Injection (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-52251.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2026-5562](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-5562/): provectus kafka-ui Endpoint testexecutions validateAccess code injection (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-52251 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-52251 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 25 Jan 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-52251 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2023-52251/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52251/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-52251
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52251
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-52251

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52251/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.