In Progress MOVEit Transfer versions released before 2022.0.9 (14.0.9), 2022.1.10 (14.1.10), and 2023.0.7 (15.0.7), a privilege escalation path associated with group administrators has been identified. This vulnerability allows a group administrator to elevate a group member's permissions to the role of an organization administrator.
The severity of this vulnerability is classified as high, with a CVSS score of 7.2. Organizations using affected versions of MOVEit Transfer are at risk, as the attack vector is network-based and requires high privileges for exploitation. Consequently, attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. It is essential to ensure that systems are updated to the latest versions to mitigate this risk and protect against potential exploitation.
Currently, there is no known public exploit for this vulnerability, and it has not been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, given its nature, it remains critical for organizations to address this vulnerability in their patch management processes.
For comprehensive security measures, organizations are encouraged to conduct regular security assessments, including penetration testing, to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability manifests as a privilege escalation issue in the MOVEit Transfer application, allowing group administrators to elevate their privileges and potentially compromise the organization’s entire administrative structure. This issue is classified under CWE-269.
The CVSS 3.1 vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating that it can be exploited over a network, requires high privileges, and has significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected versions include those prior to 2022.0.9, 2022.1.10, and 2023.0.7, with the specific version ranges being outlined in the vulnerability details.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls in the MOVEit Transfer software. Group administrators are granted permissions that allow them to modify the roles of other users, leading to an escalation of privileges without adequate checks.
The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without needing physical access to the system. The attack complexity is low, as it requires high privileges that a group administrator already possesses.
User interaction is not required, which means that an attacker could exploit this vulnerability without any assistance from the victim. The impacts of a successful exploit include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, making it a critical vulnerability for organizations using affected versions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information, potential data breaches, and disruption of services. Given the nature of this privilege escalation vulnerability, an attacker gaining organization administrator rights could lead to widespread exploitation within the network.
The urgency of addressing this vulnerability is high, as it poses a significant threat. Organizations are encouraged to incorporate this into their immediate patch cycle to mitigate potential risks.
With a CVSS score of 7.2, this vulnerability falls into a category that requires prompt attention. Organizations must evaluate their exposure and take necessary steps to safeguard their environments.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Progress MOVEit Transfer include all versions prior to 2022.0.9 (14.0.9), 2022.1.10 (14.1.10), and 2023.0.7 (15.0.7).
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should update to the fixed versions of Progress MOVEit Transfer to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended versions are 2022.0.9 or later, 2022.1.10 or later, and 2023.0.7 or later.
If patches are not immediately available, organizations should consider implementing strict access controls to limit group administrator permissions and monitor for any unusual account activities.
For additional support, organizations may utilize services such as penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for any unauthorized changes to user roles and permissions. Additionally, behavioral anomalies within user activity should be investigated.
Implementing network signatures that can identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability can also be beneficial.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in its ability to allow unauthorized privilege escalation, which can lead to severe breaches of security and data integrity within organizations.
This incident highlights the need for stringent access control measures and regular audits of user permissions to prevent similar security flaws.
Organizations should consider adopting best practices for user management and security monitoring. For further insights, refer to our vulnerability management program and our penetration testing methodology for enhanced security frameworks.
Ultimately, addressing vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-6218 is crucial for maintaining organizational security and integrity.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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