Skip to main content

Ghost CVE-2023-32235

HIGH
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2023-05-05 cve@mitre.org
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

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

Impact

CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could access files and directories outside the intended path by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%.
Patch available 39.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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

Alert me

AnalysisAI

Ghost before 5.42.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files within the active theme's folder via /assets/built%2F..%2F..%2F/ directory traversal. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Validate and canonicalize file paths. Use chroot or sandboxing. Reject input containing path separators or '../' sequences.

Affected Packages

npm ghost fix: 5.42.1

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in npm

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 Path Traversal (CWE-22), which allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended path. Ghost before 5.42.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files within the active theme's folder via /assets/built%2F..%2F..%2F/ directory traversal. This occurs in frontend/web/middleware/static-theme.js. Affected products include: Ghost. Version information: before 5.42.1.

Know when Ghost 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 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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
None
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

Ghost before 5.42.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files within the active theme's folder via /assets/built%2F..%2F..%2F/ directory traversal. This occurs in frontend/web/middleware/static-theme.js.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
39.1%
Top 2% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
4 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 HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 39.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%
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

97
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +39
CVSS: +38
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:ghost:ghost:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

More in Ghost

View all
CVE-2026-22594 HIGH POC
8.1 Jan 10

Ghost CMS versions 5.105.0-5.130.5 and 6.0.0-6.10.3 contain an authentication bypass in their two-factor authentication

CVE-2026-29053 HIGH POC
7.6 Mar 05

Arbitrary code execution in Ghost CMS versions 0.7.2 through 6.19.0 allows authenticated attackers with theme upload pri

CVE-2022-28397 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Apr 12

An arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the file upload module of Ghost CMS v4.42.0 allows attackers to execute arbitr

CVE-2022-27139 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Apr 12

An arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the file upload module of Ghost v4.39.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary

CVE-2026-26980 CRITICAL POC
9.4 Feb 20

SQL injection in Ghost CMS versions 3.24.0 through 6.19.0 allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary database da

CVE-2024-34451 CRITICAL POC
9.1 Jun 16

Ghost through 5.85.1 allows remote attackers to bypass an authentication rate-limit protection mechanism by using many X

CVE-2024-23724 CRITICAL POC
9.0 Feb 11

Ghost through 5.76.0 allows stored XSS, and resultant privilege escalation in which a contributor can take over any acco

CVE-2024-34448 HIGH POC
8.8 May 22

Ghost before 5.82.0 allows CSV Injection during a member CSV export. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability

CVE-2020-8134 HIGH POC
8.1 Mar 20

Server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in Ghost CMS < 3.10.0 allows an attacker to scan local or external netw

CVE-2021-29484 MEDIUM POC
6.8 Apr 29

Ghost is a Node.js CMS. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication

CVE-2023-40028 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Aug 15

Ghost is an open source content management system. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely expl

CVE-2025-9862 MEDIUM POC
6.1 Sep 17

Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in Ghost allows an attacker to access internal resources.0.0 through 6.

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