CVE-2023-40044

WS_FTP Server Ad Hoc Transfer Module .NET Deserialization Vulnerability

CVSS 3.1 Critical 10.0Known exploited (CISA KEV)

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Key data

CVSS 3.1 Critical 10.0

Score published by ProgressSoftware in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack vector: Network
The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity: Low
No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact: High
Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: High
Serious or total effect on availability.

Metric	Value	What it means
Attack vector	Network	The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity	Low	No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required	None	No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction	None	No action from any user is needed.
Scope	Changed	The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact	High	Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact	High	Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact	High	Serious or total effect on availability.

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at first.org/cvss.

EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score: 0.90355 (90.4% probability)
Percentile: 99.8%
Scores of: Nov 10, 2026
Model: v2026.06.15

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog: Progress WS_FTP Server Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
Added to the catalog: Oct 5, 2023
Federal due date: Oct 26, 2023
Ransomware campaigns: Known use

CISA assessment as of Feb 3, 2025

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation: Recorded by CISA as active
Automatable: yes
Technical impact: total

Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

Progress Software Corporation WS_FTP Server
- affected: 8.8.0 up to before 8.8.2
- affected: 8.7.0 up to before 8.7.4

References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

Timeline

ID reservedAug 8, 2023
Record publishedSep 27, 2023
Added to CISA KEVOct 5, 2023
Record last updatedOct 21, 2025

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About CubePath

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Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:24 UTC. Sources and licenses