CVE-2023-51444
HIGHCVE-2023-51444 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.2) Improper Input Validation vulnerability in org.geoserver:gs-platform. 1 public exploit reference exists, so weaponization risk is real. O3 Security confirms whether CVE-2023-51444 is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
GeoServer arbitrary file upload vulnerability in REST Coverage Store API
Blast Radius
org.geoserver:gs-platform☕org.geoserver:gs-restconfig☕org.geoserver:gs-platform☕org.geoserver:gs-restconfigReal-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
GeoServer is an open source software server written in Java that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. An arbitrary file upload vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.23.4 and 2.24.1 that enables an authenticated administrator with permissions to modify coverage stores through the REST Coverage Store API to upload arbitrary file contents to arbitrary file locations which can lead to remote code execution. Coverage stores that are configured using relative paths use a GeoServer Resource implementation that has validation to prevent path traversal but coverage stores that are configured using absolute paths use a different Resource implementation that does not prevent path traversal. This vulnerability can lead to executing arbitrary code. An administrator with limited privileges could also potentially exploit this to overwrite GeoServer security files and obtain full administrator privileges. Versions 2.23.4 and 2.24.1 contain a fix for this issue.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.geoserver:gs-platform | all versions | 2.23.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.geoserver:gs-restconfig | all versions | 2.23.4 |
| ☕Maven | org.geoserver:gs-platform | ≥ 2.24.0&&< 2.24.1 | 2.24.1 |
| ☕Maven | org.geoserver:gs-restconfig | ≥ 2.24.0&&< 2.24.1 | 2.24.1 |
Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.geoserver:gs-platform. 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.
Fix
Update org.geoserver:gs-platform to 2.23.4 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2023-51444 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
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-2023-51444 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-2023-51444. 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-2023-51444 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2023-51444 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.