CRITICAL · CVSS 9.8 CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability Used in ransomware attacks

CVE-2023-27350

PaperCut MF/NG Improper Access Control Vulnerability

PaperCut MF/NG

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass authentication on affected installations of PaperCut NG 22.0.5 (Build 63914). Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the SetupCompleted class. The issue results from improper access control. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-18987.

CVSS
9.8
CRITICAL
EPSS
100%
30-day exploitation
Ransomware groups
1
recorded exploiting
Published
20 Apr 2023
CWE-284

Ransomware groups exploiting CVE-2023-27350

Clop 854 victims tracked

The ransomware group known as Cl0p is a variant of a previously known strain dubbed CryptoMix. It is worth noting that this variant was delivered as the final payload in a phishing campaign in 2019 and was exclusively financially motivated, with attacks carrie

Exploitation is attributed to these groups across their recorded activity. It does not follow that every organisation they listed was reached through CVE-2023-27350 — the source data does not record an entry point per incident.

Exploitation status

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

Listed by CISA on 21 April 2023. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 12 May 2023. CISA records this vulnerability as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

EPSS — exploitation probability

FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 100%, which is higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.

CVSS vector

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

Recent listings by these groups

Disclosures from the groups above, newest first.

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2023-27350 being exploited by ransomware groups?

Yes. CVE-2023-27350 is recorded as exploited by Clop. Between them these groups account for 854 victim disclosures in this database. CISA also records this vulnerability as used in ransomware campaigns.

What does CVE-2023-27350 affect?

CVE-2023-27350 affects PaperCut MF/NG. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass authentication on affected installations of PaperCut NG 22.0.5 (Build 63914). Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the SetupCompleted class. The issue results from improper access control. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-18987.

How severe is CVE-2023-27350?

CVE-2023-27350 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS base score of 9.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 100%, higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 12 May 2023.

How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-27350?

Apply the vendor patch for PaperCut MF/NG as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.