CVE-2023-53868: coppermine-gallery · Unrestricted File Upload
Affects coppermine-gallerySource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.7 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.8% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 57% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Dec 2025
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.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Coppermine coppermine-gallery | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
- Immediately restrict access to the plugin manager interface to trusted administrators only and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Monitor and audit all plugin uploads and file changes within the Coppermine installation directories for suspicious activity.
- Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block attempts to upload or access PHP files in plugin directories.
- If possible, disable plugin upload functionality temporarily until a patch or official fix is available.
- Conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on web application components, including Coppermine Gallery.
- Isolate the Coppermine server from critical internal networks to limit lateral movement in case of compromise.
- Keep all software dependencies and the underlying operating system up to date with security patches.
- Educate administrators about the risks of uploading untrusted plugins and enforce strict change management policies.
- Review logs for any signs of exploitation attempts or unauthorized access.
- Engage with the Coppermine community or vendor for updates and patches addressing this vulnerability.
Description
CVE-2023-53868 is a high-severity remote code execution vulnerability in Coppermine Gallery version 1.6.25. Authenticated attackers can exploit this flaw by uploading malicious PHP files disguised as plugins via the plugin manager. The vulnerability allows attackers to upload zipped PHP files containing system commands to the plugin directory and execute arbitrary code without user interaction. This can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. The vulnerability requires authentication but no additional user interaction, and it has a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, indicating a significant risk. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild.