# CVE-2024-38909: Studio 42 elFinder vulnerable to Incorrect Access Control

> An attacker can copy files with unauthorized extensions between directories to expose secrets or execute arbitrary code.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 30 Jul 2024
- **Updated:** 9 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3h9f-mm2x-4j58

## What is CVE-2024-38909?

CVE-2024-38909 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 30 Jul 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Studio 42 elFinder 2.1.64 is vulnerable to Incorrect Access Control. Copying files with an unauthorized extension between server directories allows an arbitrary attacker to expose secrets, perform RCE, etc.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-38909?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including studio-42/elfinder. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `studio-42/elfinder` | Packagist | All versions to 2.1.64 | None |
| `studio-42/elfinder` | Packagist | All versions to 2.1.64 | None |

Products: Std42 Elfinder.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-38909?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-38909 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-38909 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-38909 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-52044](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52044/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-27115](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-27115/): RCE in Studio-42 elFinder on Windows before 2.1.61 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-43421](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43421/): elFinder Unrestricted File Upload vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32682/): Multiple vulnerabilities leading to RCE (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-9194](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9194/): elFinder command injection vulnerability in the PHP connector (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-38909 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-38909 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 30 Jul 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-2024-38909 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- studio-42/elfinder (Packagist): affected all versions up to 2.1.64; no fix listed
- studio-42/elfinder (Packagist): affected all versions up to 2.1.64; no fix listed

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-2024-38909/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38909/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-38909
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38909
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38909

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38909/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.