CVE-2023-41877: Gs main Path Traversal Vulnerability
HIGHCVE-2023-41877 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.2) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Gs main libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves geoserver log file path traversal vulnerability. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.
CVE-2023-41877 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 7.2
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2023-41877
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Gs main dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.geoserver</groupId>
<artifactId>gs-main</artifactId>
<version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserverHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-41877, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserverAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Gs main in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. In Gs main, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2023-41877 Affected Gs main Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.geoserver:gs-main
|
Maven |
≤ 2.23.4
|
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-41877?
Which Gs main versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2023-41877?
Is gs-main affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-41877?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-41877?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-41877?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-8g7v-vjrc-x4g5",
"modified" : "2026-07-20T13:39:02Z",
"published" : "2024-03-20T14:45:21Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-41877" ],
"summary" : "GeoServer log file path traversal vulnerability",
"details" : "### Impact\n\nThis vulnerability requires GeoServer Administrator with access to the admin console to misconfigured the **Global Settings** for **log file location** to an arbitrary location.\n\nThis can be used to read files via the admin console **GeoServer Logs** page. It is also possible to leverage RCE or cause denial of service by overwriting key GeoServer files.\n\n### Patches\n\nThis issue has been addressed in GeoServer 3.0.0:\n* The Global Settings page can no longer be used to specify log file location\n* The application parameter ``GEOSERVER_LOG_LOCATION`` mechanism (outlined below) is now the only approach available to customize the log file location.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nA system administrator responsible for running GeoServer can define the ``GEOSERVER_LOG_FILE`` parameter, preventing the global setting provided from being used.\n\nThe ``GEOSERVER_LOG_LOCATION`` parameter can be set as system property, environment variable, or servlet context parameter.\n\nEnvironmental variable:\n```bash\nexport GEOSERVER_LOG_LOCATION=/var/opt/geoserver/logs\n```\n\nSystem property:\n```bash\n-DGEOSERVER_LOG_LOCATION=/var/opt/geoserver/logs\n```\n\nWeb application ``WEB-INF/web.xml``:\n```xml\n <context-param>\n <param-name> GEOSERVER_LOG_LOCATION </param-name>\n <param-value>/var/opt/geoserver/logs</param-value>\n </context-param>\n```\n\nTomcat **conf/Catalina/localhost/geoserver.xml**:\n```xml\n<Context>\n <Parameter name=\"GEOSERVER_LOG_LOCATION\"\n value=\"/var/opt/geoserver/logs\" override=\"false\"/>\n</Context>\n```\n\n### References\n\n* [Upgrading GeoServer 3](https://docs.geoserver.org/main/en/user/installation/upgrade3/#log-location-configuration)\n* [Log location](https://docs.geoserver.org/latest/en/user/configuration/globalsettings/#logging-settings) (User Manual)",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.geoserver:gs-main"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"last_affected" : "2.23.4"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/security/advisories/GHSA-8g7v-vjrc-x4g5"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41877"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://docs.geoserver.org/latest/en/user/configuration/globalsettings.html#log-location"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
"severity" : "HIGH",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2024-03-20T14:45:21Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2024-03-20T15:15:07Z"
}
}