Progress WS_FTP Server Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability

HIGH 8.8EXPLOITED (CISA KEV)CVE-2023-40044 · Published 27/09/2023 · updated 17/06/2026

Progress WS_FTP Server Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability. Actively exploited: CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 05/10/2023. Patch affected systems as an emergency. It is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

Package	Affected versions	Patched versions
ws ftp server progress	`≥ 8.8, < 8.8.2< 8.7.4`	`8.8.28.7.4`

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.

References

packetstormsecurity.com/files/174917/Progress-Software-WS_FTP-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html · Exploit
attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044 · Third Party Advisory
censys.com/cve-2023-40044 · Third Party Advisory
community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-September-2023 · Vendor Advisory
assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-iis-http-modules-cve-2023-40044 · Exploit
progress.com/ws_ftp · Product
rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws_ftp-server · Broken Link
theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws_ftp_update · Press/Media Coverage
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog · US Government Resource
CISA KEV · CVE-2023-40044

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