CVE-2023-52169 is a vulnerability identified in the NtfsHandler.cpp component of 7-Zip, a widely used open-source file archiver. The flaw exists in versions before 24.01 and is characterized by an out-of-bounds read condition (CWE-125) within the NTFS handler code. Specifically, when 7-Zip processes NTFS file system images, it may read bytes beyond the allocated buffer, which are then erroneously included as part of the filename metadata extracted from the archive. This unintended memory disclosure can leak sensitive information residing adjacent to the buffer in memory. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in scenarios where 7-Zip is used server-side to extract archives uploaded by untrusted users, such as in web services or cloud environments. Exploiting this vulnerability requires no privileges, no user interaction, and can be triggered remotely by submitting a maliciously crafted archive file. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.2 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H) indicates a network attack vector with low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a scope unchanged, resulting in partial confidentiality loss and high impact on availability due to potential crashes or denial of service. Although no active exploits have been reported, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality and availability of systems using vulnerable 7-Zip versions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive memory contents, potentially exposing confidential data through filename leakage during archive extraction. The high impact on availability means that exploitation could cause denial of service on critical servers, disrupting business operations. Organizations relying on 7-Zip for automated extraction of user-uploaded archives, such as web hosting providers, cloud services, and enterprise file management systems, are particularly vulnerable. The risk is amplified in environments where untrusted users can upload files without sufficient validation or sandboxing. Confidentiality breaches could lead to exposure of internal data or credentials, while availability impacts could affect service continuity. Given the widespread use of 7-Zip in Europe, especially in IT service providers and public sector organizations, the vulnerability could have broad operational and reputational consequences if exploited.

The primary mitigation is to upgrade 7-Zip to version 24.01 or later, where this vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should audit their environments to identify all instances of 7-Zip used for archive extraction, especially on servers processing untrusted user uploads. Implement strict input validation and file type verification on uploaded archives to reduce the risk of malicious payloads. Employ sandboxing or containerization techniques to isolate extraction processes, limiting the impact of potential exploitation. Monitoring and logging extraction activities can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to block suspicious archive uploads. Regularly update and patch all related software components and maintain an incident response plan to address potential exploitation scenarios swiftly.