# CVE-2023-40044: WS_FTP Server Ad Hoc Transfer Module .NET Deserialization Vulnerability

> CVE-2023-40044: WS_FTP Server Ad Hoc Transfer Module .NET Deserialization Vulnerability. CVSS 10.0 (CVSS 3.1), in CISA KEV.

Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2023-40044
Last updated: 2025-10-21T23:05:36Z

- Published: 2023-09-27 14:48 UTC · Updated: 2025-10-21 23:05 UTC · Assigner: ProgressSoftware
- CVSS: 10.0 (CVSS 3.1) · Severity: Critical · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS: 90.4%, 100th percentile (scored 2026-10-25)
- CISA KEV: yes, added 2023-10-05, federal due date 2023-10-26, ransomware use: Known
- CWE: CWE-502

## 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.

## CISA required action

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

## Affected vendors and products

- Progress Software Corporation: WS\_FTP Server

## References

- [CVE record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40044)
- [NVD entry](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40044)
- [http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174917/Progress-Software-WS\_FTP-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174917/Progress-Software-WS_FTP-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html)
- [https://attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044](https://attackerkb.com/topics/bn32f9sNax/cve-2023-40044)
- [https://censys.com/cve-2023-40044/](https://censys.com/cve-2023-40044/)
- [https://community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-September-2023](https://community.progress.com/s/article/WS-FTP-Server-Critical-Vulnerability-September-2023)
- [https://www.assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-iis-http-modules-cve-2023-40044](https://www.assetnote.io/resources/research/rce-in-progress-ws-ftp-ad-hoc-via-iis-http-modules-cve-2023-40044)
- [https://www.progress.com/ws\_ftp](https://www.progress.com/ws_ftp)
- [https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws\_ftp-server/](https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2023/09/29/etr-critical-vulnerabilities-in-ws_ftp-server/)
- [https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws\_ftp\_update/](https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/02/ws_ftp_update/)

---

_Sources: CVE records from the CVE Program (cve.org). CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. (https://www.cve.org/) This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. (https://nvd.nist.gov/) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog from CISA. (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) EPSS scores from FIRST (Exploit Prediction Scoring System). (https://www.first.org/epss/)_


---
Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2023-40044 · Markdown: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2023-40044.md · JSON: https://rewindex.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2023-40044 · Data licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · Generated 2026-10-26T04:04:12.621Z