VulnerabilityPublished 13 Dec 2023Updated 3 Jun 2025

CVE-2023-50440: Improper Access Control

Source CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 2023.5 : update affected systems when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

5.5Medium

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 13% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch: Available – fixed in 2023.5

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

Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: None
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Local: The vulnerable component is not bound to the network stack and the attacker’s path is via read/write/execute capabilities. Either: the attacker exploits the vulnerability by accessing the target system locally (e.g., keyboard, console), or remotely (e.g., SSH); or the attacker relies on User Interaction by another person to perform actions required to exploit the vulnerability (e.g., tricking a legitimate user into opening a malicious document).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: Required: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to take some action before the vulnerability can be exploited.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: High: There is total loss of confidentiality, resulting in all resources within the impacted component being divulged to the attacker. Alternatively, access to only some restricted information is obtained, but the disclosed information presents a direct, serious impact.
Integrity: None: There is no loss of integrity within the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 Dec 2023
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC or the CVSS exploit maturity reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
n/a n/a	Affected <2023.5	Fixed in 2023.5

AI-suggested

1. 2. Implement strict controls on the creation and modification of ZED container files, ensuring only trusted users can alter container contents. 3. Educate users about the risks of opening containers from untrusted or unexpected sources, emphasizing caution with files that may trigger network connections. 4. Monitor outbound network traffic for unusual SMB or UNC connection attempts, especially to unknown external IP addresses, using network intrusion detection systems or firewall rules. 5. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect suspicious file modifications and network activities related to container files. 6. Consider disabling or restricting UNC path resolution in environments where it is not required, or apply group policy settings to limit automatic network connections triggered by file references. 7. Conduct regular audits of container usage and file integrity to detect unauthorized modifications. 8. Collaborate with PRIMX support or security teams to receive timely updates and guidance on this vulnerability.

Description

ZED containers produced by PRIMX ZED! for Windows before Q.2020.3 (ANSSI qualification submission); ZED! for Windows before Q.2021.2 (ANSSI qualification submission); ZONECENTRAL for Windows before Q.2021.2 (ANSSI qualification submission); ZONECENTRAL for Windows before 2023.5; ZEDMAIL for Windows before 2023.5; ZED! for Windows, Mac, Linux before 2023.5; ZEDFREE for Windows, Mac, Linux before 2023.5; or ZEDPRO for Windows, Mac, Linux before 2023.5 can be modified by an unauthenticated attacker to include a UNC reference so that it could trigger network access to an attacker-controlled computer when opened by the victim.

Impact

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality. If attackers can convince users to open manipulated ZED containers, they may induce outbound network connections to attacker-controlled servers, potentially leaking Windows authentication hashes or other sensitive network information. This can facilitate lateral movement or further compromise within corporate networks. Organizations using PRIMX ZED products for secure containerization or email encryption may be particularly at risk. The cross-platform nature (Windows, Mac, Linux) broadens the attack surface. Given the requirement for local modification of containers and user interaction, the attack vector is somewhat limited but still significant in environments where users frequently exchange containerized files or emails. The vulnerability could be exploited in targeted spear-phishing campaigns or insider threat scenarios. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider the confidentiality impact seriously, as unauthorized data disclosure could lead to compliance violations and reputational damage.

CWE-284Improper Access Control (opens in a new tab)
Pillar weaknessCWE Top 25 (2025): #19OWASP Top 10 A01:2025: Broken Access Control (opens in a new tab)
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
MITRE discourages mapping vulnerabilities to this broad entry; the root cause is usually a more specific weakness.
Architecture and Design · Operation
Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
Architecture and Design · Separation of Privilege
Compartmentalize the system to have "safe" areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area.
OWASP Cheat Sheets
Docker Security (opens in a new tab)
Third Party Javascript Management (opens in a new tab)
Virtual Patching (opens in a new tab)
Authorization (opens in a new tab)
OWASP ASVS 4.0.3
V1.4.4 (opens in a new tab)
V1.4.5 (opens in a new tab)
V1.10.1 (opens in a new tab)
Attack patterns
Embedding Scripts within Scripts (opens in a new tab)
Modification of Windows Service Configuration (opens in a new tab)
Malicious Root Certificate (opens in a new tab)
Intent Spoof (opens in a new tab)
WebView Exposure (opens in a new tab)
From MITRE CWE, MITRE CAPEC and OWASP (Top 10, OpenCRE).

References

Community reviews

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Exploitation evidence

What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 3 Jul 2025, 18:43 UTC

WeaknessesCWE-284

Technical details

References

Community reviews

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