CVE-2023-40046
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 · uneditedIn WS_FTP Server versions prior to 8.7.4 and 8.8.2, a SQL injection vulnerability exists in the WS_FTP Server manager interface. An attacker may be able to infer information about the structure and contents of the database and execute SQL statements that alter or delete database elements.
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 confidenceSQL injection vulnerability in WS_FTP Server manager interface allows attackers to infer database structure/contents and execute SQL statements that can alter or delete database elements. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 8.7.4 and 8.8.2.
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< 8.7.4>= 8.8, < 8.8.2CVSS 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
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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 checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify WS_FTP Server versionCheck the installed WS_FTP Server version through the Windows Programs and Features panel, the WS_FTP Server service information, or the manager interface About section. Look for version numbers such as 8.7.x, 8.8.0, or 8.8.1.Affected if The installed version is below 8.7.4, or is 8.8.0 or 8.8.1. These versions fall within the vulnerable ranges.
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Confirm manager interface is enabledVerify that the WS_FTP Server manager interface service is running and accessible. This is typically the web-based administration console that listens on a configured port (default 8088 or 443).Affected if The manager interface is enabled and exposed. The SQL injection vulnerability specifically exists in this component, so it must be active for the flaw to be exploitable.
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Check network exposure of manager interfaceReview firewall rules and network configuration to determine if the manager interface port is accessible from network segments outside the trusted administrative zone.Affected if The manager interface is reachable from untrusted network segments. While the vulnerability exists in the code regardless of exposure, actual exploitation requires network access to the manager interface.
You are affected if WS_FTP Server version is below 8.7.4 or is 8.8.0/8.8.1 AND the manager interface is enabled and accessible, particularly from network locations where untrusted users could reach it.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
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 · scoped8.7.48.8.2
Upgrade WS_FTP Server to version 8.7.4 or 8.8.2 or later to remediate this SQL injection vulnerability in the manager interface.
Upgrade to WS_FTP Server 8.7.4 or 8.8.2 (preferably 8.8.2 for latest fixes)
- Obtain the appropriate installer for WS_FTP Server version 8.7.4 or 8.8.2 from the Progress official download site (www.progress.com or community.progress.com)
- Ensure you have a complete backup of the current WS_FTP Server configuration and database
- Stop the WS_FTP Server service before proceeding with the upgrade
- Run the installer for the target version (8.7.4 or 8.8.2)
- Follow the on-screen installation wizard prompts to complete the upgrade
- After installation, verify the WS_FTP Server manager interface is accessible
- Restart the WS_FTP Server service
- Validate that the SQL injection vulnerability is no longer present by confirming normal manager interface functionality
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation2.0 h
- Implementation3.0 h
- Testing3.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2023-40046 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-40046 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- 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
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