CVE-2023-40044 on CISA KEV

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.

01What CISA says about this vulnerability

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.

02Required action — verbatim from CISA

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

03Notes & references

• www.progress.com — https://www.progress.com/ws_ftp
• community.progress.com — https://community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-Se…
• www.theregister.com — https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws_ftp_update/
• www.rapid7.com — https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws_f…
• attackerkb.com — https://attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044
• censys.com — https://censys.com/cve-2023-40044/
• www.assetnote.io — https://www.assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-ii…
• packetstormsecurity.com — http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174917/Progress-Software-WS_FTP-Unauthentic…

04SARA's analyst layer — why this matters

This vulnerability is currently on the CISA KEV list, which CISA only adds CVEs to when there is reliable evidence of active exploitation in the wild. For federal civilian agencies, BOD 22-01 requires remediation by the due date above. For everyone else, KEV is the strongest "patch immediately" signal you can get from public threat intel.

05Affected products (summary)

Vendor	Product	Versions
Progress Software Corporation	WS_FTP Server	8.8.0, 8.7.0

06Detection

Open the Sigma generator with a pre-filled prompt for this CVE to draft a starting detection:

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