CVE-2023-35708 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability found in the Progress MOVEit Transfer web application. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to potentially gain unauthorized access to MOVEit Transfer's database. The affected versions include all releases before 2021.0.8 (13.0.8), 2021.1.6 (13.1.6), 2022.0.6 (14.0.6), 2022.1.7 (14.1.7), and 2023.0.3 (15.0.3). An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by submitting a specially crafted payload to a MOVEit Transfer application endpoint, leading to possible modification and disclosure of the database content.
The severity of this vulnerability is assessed as critical, with a CVSS score of 9.8. This high score indicates that the potential impact on organizations can be severe, making it essential for affected users to address this issue promptly. The vulnerability has been published since June 16, 2023, and organizations should prioritize remediation efforts to protect sensitive data.
Given the criticality of this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The fixed versions are 2020.1.10 (12.1.10), 2021.0.8 (13.0.8), 2021.1.6 (13.1.6), 2022.0.6 (14.0.6), 2022.1.7 (14.1.7), and 2023.0.3 (15.0.3) which mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. Failure to patch could expose organizations to significant risks.
As of now, there are no known public exploits or proof of concept available for this vulnerability, but the potential for exploitation remains high due to its nature. Organizations should remain vigilant and monitor for any emerging threats related to this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The official CVE description states that this vulnerability allows for unauthorized access to the MOVEit Transfer's database due to a SQL injection flaw. The CWE classification for this issue is CWE-89, which pertains to SQL Injection. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of MOVEit Transfer, specifically those prior to the patched versions listed above.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the MOVEit Transfer application handles user input for database queries. Attackers may exploit this flaw by injecting malicious SQL code through application endpoints. The attack vector is network-based, with low complexity and no privileges required for exploitation. No user interaction is necessary, increasing the risk of successful attacks.
The potential impact of this vulnerability is significant. If exploited, it could lead to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, as attackers could gain full access to the database. Organizations relying on this application must assess their deployment to understand the potential blast radius and act accordingly.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using affected versions of MOVEit Transfer are at high risk of unauthorized database access. The criticality of this vulnerability and the potential for exploitation underscore the need for immediate action. Organizations should prioritize addressing this vulnerability in their patch cycles to mitigate risks. Given the CVSS score of 9.8, organizations should treat the remediation of this vulnerability with utmost urgency.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of MOVEit Transfer are affected by this vulnerability: all versions prior to 2021.0.8 (13.0.8), 2021.1.6 (13.1.6), 2022.0.6 (14.0.6), 2022.1.7 (14.1.7), and 2023.0.3 (15.0.3). Organizations are advised to upgrade to the latest patched versions to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to remediate this critical vulnerability. The fixed versions are 2020.1.10 (12.1.10), 2021.0.8 (13.0.8), 2021.1.6 (13.1.6), 2022.0.6 (14.0.6), 2022.1.7 (14.1.7), and 2023.0.3 (15.0.3). If patches are unavailable, organizations should implement workarounds and harden configurations to limit exposure.
For further assistance in validating security controls and testing the resilience of your systems, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing services.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for unusual database access patterns and behavioral anomalies is crucial for early detection of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should implement network signatures to detect any suspicious activity targeting the MOVEit Transfer application.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2023-35708 highlights the ongoing risks associated with SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications. Organizations must remain vigilant against such vulnerabilities, understand their potential impact, and implement robust security measures. Security teams should prioritize penetration testing methodologies to uncover hidden vulnerabilities in their applications.
Additionally, organizations should engage in continuous security assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of their defenses against potential attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a proactive security posture, particularly for widely used software like MOVEit Transfer.
For further insights on maintaining security in cloud environments, organizations may refer to the cloud penetration testing guide and implement best practices for securing their applications.
Known Exploitation Timeline
As of now, this vulnerability has not been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
EPSS Risk Context
The EPSS score for this vulnerability is 0.7378, placing it in the 98.82 percentile for risk, indicating a high probability of exploitation.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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