Skip to main content

Ckeditor CVE-2023-31541

CRITICAL
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434)
2023-06-13 cve@mitre.org
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File type validation, storage isolation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Command and Control, Persistence

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 1.78%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could upload malicious files that can be executed on the server by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity + public POC available.
No patch listed yet 1.8% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAI

A unrestricted file upload vulnerability was discovered in the ‘Browse and upload images’ feature of the CKEditor v1.2.3 plugin for Redmine, which allows arbitrary files to be uploaded to the server. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Validate file types server-side, store uploads outside webroot, use random filenames, scan for malware.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Unrestricted File Upload (CWE-434), which allows attackers to upload malicious files that can be executed on the server. A unrestricted file upload vulnerability was discovered in the ‘Browse and upload images’ feature of the CKEditor v1.2.3 plugin for Redmine, which allows arbitrary files to be uploaded to the server. Affected products include: Ckeditor.

Know when Ckeditor gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

A unrestricted file upload vulnerability was discovered in the ‘Browse and upload images’ feature of the CKEditor v1.2.3 plugin for Redmine, which allows arbitrary files to be uploaded to the server.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.8%
Top 24% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 1.8%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity + public POC available
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

71
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +2
CVSS: +49
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Malicious file upload attacks exploit insufficient validation when web applications accept user-provided files.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:ckeditor:ckeditor:1.2.3:*:*:*:*:redmine:*:*
CVE-2021-33829 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Jun 09

A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the HTML Data Processor in CKEditor 4 4.14.0 through 4.16.x before 4.16.1

CVE-2018-17960 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Nov 14

CKEditor 4.x before 4.11.0 allows user-assisted XSS involving a source-mode paste. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), thi

CVE-2012-4000 MEDIUM POC
4.3 Jul 12

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the print_textinputs_var function in editor/dialog/fck_spellerpages/spellerp

CVE-2014-4037 MEDIUM POC
4.3 Jun 11

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in editor/dialog/fck_spellerpages/spellerpages/server-scripts/spellchecker.php

CVE-2022-24729 HIGH
7.5 Mar 16

CKEditor4 is an open source what-you-see-is-what-you-get HTML editor. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability

CVE-2012-2067 MEDIUM
6.8 Sep 05

Unspecified vulnerability in the CKeditor module 6.x-2.x before 6.x-2.3 and the CKEditor module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.9 a

CVE-2020-9281 MEDIUM
6.1 Mar 07

A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the HTML Data Processor for CKEditor 4.0 before 4.14 allows remote attacke

CVE-2021-26272 MEDIUM
6.5 Jan 26

It was possible to execute a ReDoS-type attack inside CKEditor 4 before 4.16 by persuading a victim to paste crafted URL

CVE-2021-26271 MEDIUM
6.5 Jan 26

It was possible to execute a ReDoS-type attack inside CKEditor 4 before 4.16 by persuading a victim to paste crafted tex

CVE-2020-27193 MEDIUM
6.1 Nov 12

A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Color Dialog plugin for CKEditor 4.15.0 allows remote attackers to run

CVE-2021-21391 MEDIUM
6.5 Apr 29

CKEditor 5 provides a WYSIWYG editing solution. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploit

CVE-2021-21254 MEDIUM
6.5 Jan 29

CKEditor 5 is an open source rich text editor framework with a modular architecture. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), t

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy