CVE-2023-41266 Qlik Sense: file path flaw
In plain words: The program can be tricked into reading or writing files outside the folder it should stay in. Leaks files such as passwords and settings, or overwrites important ones.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Dec 28, 2023
What to do
- Install Qlik's security update for Sense. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- Qlik Sense Path Traversal Vulnerability
- Product
- Qlik Sense
- CISA description
- Qlik Sense contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to create an anonymous session by sending maliciously crafted HTTP requests. This anonymous session could allow the attacker to send further requests to unauthorized endpoints.
- Type of flaw
- File path flaw (CWE-20)
- Confirmed exploited
- Dec 7, 2023 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Dec 28, 2023
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Answering about CVE-2023-41266 ·
Questions about CVE-2023-41266
Is CVE-2023-41266 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2023-41266 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Dec 7, 2023, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2023-41266?
Install Qlik's security update for Sense. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2023-41266?
Only if you use Qlik Sense. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.