CVE-2023-52045 in eLfinder
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2024
Studio-42 eLfinder 2.1.62 contains a filename restriction bypass leading to a persistent Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The CVE-2023-52045 vulnerability affects Studio-42 eLfinder version 2.1.62 and represents a critical security flaw that combines filename restriction bypass with persistent cross-site scripting capabilities. This vulnerability resides within the file management interface of the eLfinder web-based file manager, which is widely used for providing file upload and management functionalities in web applications. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict filename characters, allowing malicious actors to bypass intended security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the eLfinder application processes user-supplied filenames without sufficient validation of special characters or script tags. The filename restriction bypass enables attackers to upload files with malicious content in their names, particularly leveraging characters that can be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. When these filenames are subsequently displayed in the user interface or processed by the application's rendering engine, the embedded malicious code executes in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent XSS attack vector. This issue is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can persist across multiple user sessions and interactions with the application.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-52045 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected environment. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts continue to execute whenever affected users interact with the file manager, potentially compromising multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments, as attackers can use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised file uploads. The vulnerability affects both authenticated and unauthenticated users depending on the configuration, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible file management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-52045 should include immediate patching of the eLfinder application to version 2.1.63 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for filename validation and sanitization. Organizations should implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, including server-side filename sanitization, content security policy enforcement, and regular security scanning of uploaded files. The application should be configured to reject filenames containing potentially dangerous characters or script tags, and all user uploads should be subject to thorough security checks before being made available to other users. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of all file management interfaces and ensure proper access controls are implemented to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.