CVE-2023-40828 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.5) Path Traversal vulnerability in org.pf4j:pf4j. The records list no fixed version yet; check the vendor advisory below and apply the mitigations in the meantime.
pf4j vulnerable to remote code execution via expandIfZip method in the extract function
Exploitation Status
Proof-of-concept exploit code exists
- CISA’s SSVC triage found public proof-of-concept exploit code for this CVE, though no confirmed active exploitation.
- CISA assesses this as automatable — exploitation doesn’t require manual, per-target effort, which raises the odds of mass scanning and opportunistic attacks.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for CVE-2023-40828.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
Where this sits among everything scored
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 |
Affected Products
pf4jpf4j_projectDetection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.pf4j:pf4j, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Remediation status
The records we use list no patched version of org.pf4j:pf4j for CVE-2023-40828. Check the maintainer's advisory, and where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range.
Mitigate without a patch
Resolve every user-supplied path to its canonical form and reject anything that escapes the intended directory, and run the component under an account that has no read or write access outside the directory it legitimately serves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2023-40828 in your dependencies?
Find it across Maven, including transitive dependencies.