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Mk AuthApplication

CVE-2023-27246

HIGH · 8.8 CVSS v3.1 Published 2023-03-28
Fix available
A fix is available. Upgrade to after 23.01k4.9 or later.
See remediation →
94/100
Remediation priority · Urgent
Remotely reachable Zero-click

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
An arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Virtual Disk of MK-Auth 23.01K4.9 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via uploading a crafted .htaccess file.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · high confidence

MK-Auth version 23.01K4.9 contains a file upload vulnerability in its Virtual Disk feature that allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files, including .htaccess files. Since .htaccess files can configure server behavior (such as enabling PHP execution in uploaded files or redirecting requests), an attacker can achieve remote code execution by uploading a malicious .htaccess and accompanying payload.

MitigationImplement strict allowlist-based file validation for uploads, reject .htaccess and other configuration files, store uploaded files outside the web root or with non-executable extensions, and rename uploaded files to strip dangerous extensions.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Mk AuthApplication
Affected:<= 23.01k4.9

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Identify MK-Auth installation version
    Locate the MK-Auth installation directory and check the version file, typically found in the application root or in an about/version configuration file. Common locations include version.php, config.php, or the admin interface system information page.
    Affected if The installed version is 23.01k4.9 or any earlier version (anything <= 23.01k4.9).
  2. Confirm Virtual Disk feature is enabled
    Access the MK-Auth admin panel and navigate to the Virtual Disk or Disk Virtual section under the features or plugins menu. Check if the feature toggle is set to enabled or active.
    Affected if Virtual Disk feature is enabled and accessible to users.
  3. Verify upload endpoint accessibility
    Attempt to access the Virtual Disk upload functionality without authentication. The upload endpoint is typically found at paths like /virtual_disk/upload, /disk/upload, or /mk-auth/upload. Use a browser or curl to test unauthenticated access.
    Affected if The upload endpoint responds without requiring login credentials.
  4. Test for unrestricted file upload
    Using curl or a web form, attempt to upload a test file (such as a harmless .txt file) to the Virtual Disk upload endpoint. Verify whether the upload succeeds and the file is stored on the server.
    Affected if Uploads are accepted and files are stored without validation errors.
  5. Check for .htaccess upload capability
    Attempt to upload a .htaccess file to the Virtual Disk feature. This file can be a minimal test like 'RewriteEngine On' or a more complete configuration testing PHP execution in uploads directory.
    Affected if The server accepts and stores .htaccess files via the upload mechanism.

A system is affected if MK-Auth version is 23.01k4.9 or lower AND the Virtual Disk feature is enabled and accessible without authentication, allowing unrestricted file uploads including .htaccess files.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

dbcve · scoped
Upgrade available Upgrade to a release after 23.01k4.9
Interim mitigation

Implement strict allowlist-based file validation for uploads, reject .htaccess and other configuration files, store uploaded files outside the web root or with non-executable extensions, and rename uploaded files to strip dangerous extensions.

Recommended fix Moderate confidence

Upgrade to any version of Mk Auth newer than 23.01k4.9 that includes the security fix for this vulnerability (verify with vendor)

  1. Check the current Mk Auth version installed (likely visible in the admin interface or system info)
  2. Identify the Virtual Disk feature in Mk Auth which allows file uploads
  3. Disable or restrict the Virtual Disk file upload functionality as an interim mitigation
  4. Contact Mk Auth official support or check their official GitHub repository for the latest patched version
  5. Upgrade Mk Auth to the version that follows 23.01k4.9 (the fixed release that addresses this specific .htaccess upload vulnerability)
  6. After upgrading, verify that .htaccess files cannot be uploaded through the Virtual Disk feature
  7. Test that the Virtual Disk still functions normally for legitimate file types
Caveat Check Mk Auth release notes for any breaking changes between 23.01k4.9 and the target upgrade version

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Mk Auth Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation4.0 h
  • Implementation8.0 h
  • Testing4.0 h
  • Review / QA2.0 h
18.0 hours of engineering $3,200
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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-27246 in production — separate from our analysis above.

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What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here
  • Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
  • No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
  • No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data