# CVE-2023-52325: Path traversal in Trend Micro Apex Central

> A local file inclusion flaw in Trend Micro Apex Central allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when combined with another vulnerability.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 23 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 11 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6pp8-37pj-mhcc

## What is CVE-2023-52325?

CVE-2023-52325 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Trend Micro Apex Central, published on 23 Jan 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A local file inclusion vulnerability in one of Trend Micro Apex Central's widgets could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on affected installations.

Please note: this vulnerability must be used in conjunction with another one to exploit an affected system. In addition, an attacker must first obtain a valid set of credentials on target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-52325?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Trendmicro Apex Central.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-52325?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-52325 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-52325 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-52325 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Trend Micro Apex Central

- [CVE-2022-26871](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26871/): Trend Micro Apex Central Arbitrary File Upload (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-69258](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-69258/): Code injection in Trend Micro Apex Central (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-49219](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49219/): Deserialization in Trend Micro Apex Central (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-49220](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49220/): Deserialization in Trend Micro Apex Central (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-52324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52324/): File upload in Trend Micro Apex Central (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-52325 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-52325 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Trend Micro Apex Central, published on 23 Jan 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-52325 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Trend Micro Apex Central. 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-2023-52325/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52325/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-52325
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52325
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-52325

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52325/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.