CVE-2023-40828 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.5) Path Traversal vulnerability in org.pf4j:pf4j. O3 Security confirms whether CVE-2023-40828 is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
pf4j vulnerable to remote code execution via expandIfZip method in the extract function
Real-World Exposure
org.pf4j:pf4jReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
An issue in pf4j pf4j v.3.9.0 and before allows a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information and execute arbitrary code via the expandIfZip method in the extract function.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.pf4j:pf4j | all versions | No fix |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.pf4j:pf4j. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Remediation status
No patched version of org.pf4j:pf4j has shipped for CVE-2023-40828 yet. Where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range, and apply any maintainer-recommended mitigation.
Mitigate without a patch
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2023-40828 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2023-40828. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2023-40828 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2023-40828 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.