Filecatalyst WorkflowApplication · Fortra

CVE-2024-25153

CRITICAL · 9.8 CVSS v3.1 Published 2024-03-13
Fix available
A fix is available. Upgrade to 5.1.6 or later.
See remediation →
100/100
Remediation priority · Urgent
Remotely reachable No privileges 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
A directory traversal within the ‘ftpservlet’ of the FileCatalyst Workflow Web Portal allows files to be uploaded outside of the intended ‘uploadtemp’ directory with a specially crafted POST request. In situations where a file is successfully uploaded to web portal’s DocumentRoot, specially crafted JSP files could be used to execute code, including web shells.

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

A directory traversal vulnerability in the ftpservlet of FileCatalyst Workflow Web Portal allows attackers to escape the intended uploadtemp directory via specially crafted POST requests. When files are uploaded to the web portal's DocumentRoot, malicious JSP files can be placed and executed for remote code execution, including web shells.

MitigationApply vendor patch or update to a fixed version that implements proper path validation and sanitization in the ftpservlet upload functionality. Additionally, configure the web server to prevent JSP execution in all upload directories.

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
Filecatalyst WorkflowApplication
Affected:>= 5.0, < 5.1.6= 5.1.6

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
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 FileCatalyst Workflow version
    Locate the installation directory and check version info in release notes, manifest, or admin interface. Common paths: /opt/filecatalyst, C:\Program Files\FileCatalyst, or check the WAR file version inside the deployed webapp.
    Affected if Installed version is 5.0 through 5.1.5 inclusive, or exactly 5.1.6 (version >= 5.0 AND < 5.1.6, OR version = 5.1.6)
  2. Verify ftpservlet is exposed
    Check if the ftpservlet endpoint is accessible on the web server. Inspect web.xml or the deployed application's URL patterns for /ftpservlet or similar paths. Attempt a HEAD request to the endpoint if authorized.
    Affected if The ftpservlet is deployed and reachable via HTTP/HTTPS on the web portal
  3. Confirm upload functionality is enabled
    Check the application configuration for uploadtemp directory settings. Look for uploadtemp path in config files (e.g., server.properties, web.xml init-params, or application.yml). Verify the ftpservlet has file upload processing enabled.
    Affected if Upload functionality is enabled and the uploadtemp directory is in use for handling POST requests
  4. Inspect JSP execution policy in upload directories
    Review web server configuration (Tomcat web.xml, IIS URL authorization, or equivalent) for JSP servlet mappings. Check if JSP files can execute in the DocumentRoot or any user-upload directories. Look for servlet mappings like <url-pattern>*.jsp</url-pattern> and their associated servlet definitions.
    Affected if JSP execution is permitted in DocumentRoot or in directories where uploaded files are stored
  5. Check DocumentRoot writability
    Verify the web server DocumentRoot directory permissions. Confirm the application has write access to store files there. Inspect the ftpservlet configuration to determine if files can be written outside the intended uploadtemp directory.
    Affected if DocumentRoot or any upload-accessible directory is writable by the application process

You are affected if your FileCatalyst Workflow version falls within 5.0 to 5.1.5 or is exactly 5.1.6, AND the ftpservlet is active with upload functionality, AND JSP execution is allowed in accessible upload directories.

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 5.1.6 or later
Fixed in 5.1.6
Interim mitigation

Apply vendor patch or update to a fixed version that implements proper path validation and sanitization in the ftpservlet upload functionality. Additionally, configure the web server to prevent JSP execution in all upload directories.

Recommended fix High confidence

FileCatalyst Workflow 5.1.7 or later

  1. 1. Review the current FileCatalyst Workflow installation to confirm the exact version installed (check application web interface or deployment documentation)
  2. 2. Schedule a maintenance window for the upgrade process
  3. 3. Back up the current FileCatalyst Workflow installation, including configuration files, database (if applicable), and any custom settings
  4. 4. Download FileCatalyst Workflow version 5.1.7 or later from the official Fortra/FileCatalyst download portal (filecatalyst.software or www.fortra.com)
  5. 5. Deploy the upgraded version following the standard FileCatalyst installation/upgrade documentation
  6. 6. Verify the ftpservlet is functioning correctly after upgrade
  7. 7. Test that file uploads are now restricted to the intended uploadtemp directory
  8. 8. Confirm no custom configurations or integrations have been broken by the upgrade
Caveat Review release notes for any breaking changes between your current version and 5.1.7; standard upgrade should be low-risk but test in staging first

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

Fix this in Filecatalyst Workflow Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation3.0 h
  • Implementation6.0 h
  • Testing4.0 h
  • Review / QA2.0 h
15.0 hours of engineering $2,640
Get the upgrade done

An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $4,224.

Scan for this in your stack

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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-2024-25153 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