CVE-2023-40044: WS_FTP Server - Insecure Deserialization

2025-08-01 WS_FTP Server PoC Public

Description

In WS_FTP Server versions prior to 8.7.4 and 8.8.2, a pre-authenticated attacker could leverage a .NET deserialization vulnerability in the Ad Hoc Transfer module to execute remote commands on the underlying WS_FTP Server operating system.

PoC

id: CVE-2023-40044

info:
  name: WS_FTP Server - Insecure Deserialization
  author: 0x_Akoko
  severity: critical
  description: |
    In WS_FTP Server versions prior to 8.7.4 and 8.8.2, a pre-authenticated attacker could leverage a .NET deserialization vulnerability in the Ad Hoc Transfer module to execute remote commands on the underlying WS_FTP Server operating system.
  impact: |
    Unauthenticated attackers can exploit .NET deserialization vulnerability in the Ad Hoc Transfer module to execute arbitrary commands on the WS_FTP Server, potentially compromising the entire file transfer infrastructure and accessing all transferred files.
  remediation: |
    Update Progress WS_FTP Server to version 8.7.4 or 8.8.2 or later that properly validates deserialization input in the Ad Hoc Transfer module.
  reference:
    - https://attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044
    - https://censys.com/cve-2023-40044/
    - https://www.progress.com/ws_ftp
    - https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws_ftp-server/
    - https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws_ftp_update/
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
    cvss-score: 10
    cve-id: CVE-2023-40044
    cwe-id: CWE-502
    epss-score: 0.9015
    epss-percentile: 0.99789
    cpe: cpe:2.3:a:progress:ws_ftp_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  metadata:
    verified: true
    shodan-query: title:"Ad Hoc Transfer"
    max-request: 1
    vendor: progress
    product: ws_ftp_server
  tags: cve,cve2023,ws_ftp,kev,passive,vkev,vuln

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{{BaseURL}}/AHT/AHT_UI/public/js/app.min.js"

    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: regex
        part: body
        regex:
          - '/\*! fileTransfer \d+-(0[1-9]|1[0-2])-(19\d{2}|20[01]\d|202[0-2]) \*/'
          - '/\*! fileTransfer \d+-(0[1-8])-2023 \*/'
        condition: or

      - type: status
        status:
          - 200

    extractors:
      - type: regex
        part: body
        regex:
          - '\d+-(0[1-9]|1[0-2])-(19\d{2}|20[01]\d|202[0-2])'
          - '\d+-(0[1-8])-2023'
# digest: 490a00463044022046ade665eb64613ff563db1aa27fefb3e7a079847e46ada2386cb7b3df18540f0220095a60a6fe24c6cfa4a5b720fbcd4067dceda0e4d9e5a79b26dda027c8f447ac:922c64590222798bb761d5b6d8e72950

# Visit https://trap.biu.life/ to view exploit trends for this vulnerability.

References

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