CVE-2023-0669
CVE-2023-0669 is a security flaw in Fortra GoAnywhere MFT. Attackers can run their own code on Fortra GoAnywhere MFT from anywhere, without logging in. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 10 Feb 2023, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Fortra GoAnywhere MFT is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fortra has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a remote code execution in Fortra GoAnywhere MFT. In its words: “Fortra (formerly, HelpSystems) GoAnywhere MFT contains a pre-authentication remote code execution vulnerability in the License Response Servlet due to deserializing an attacker-controlled object.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Fortra (formerly, HelpSystems) GoAnywhere MFT suffers from a pre-authentication command injection vulnerability in the License Response Servlet due to deserializing an arbitrary attacker-controlled object. This issue was patched in version 7.1.2.”[2]
The underlying weakness is deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Fortra’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Fortra GoAnywhere MFT.
Most families won’t have Fortra GoAnywhere MFT; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 10 Feb 2023, 4 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 3 Mar 2023 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at over 99%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Fortra has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Fortra GoAnywhere MFT is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 3 Mar 2023 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.2.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at over 99%.[4] |
See also
Other Fortra GoAnywhere MFT flaws
- CVE-2025-10035: deserialization of untrusted data ·
Other Fortra flaws
- CVE-2022-42948, Fortra Cobalt Strike: user interface remote code execution ·
- CVE-2022-39197, Fortra Cobalt Strike: teamserver cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
Other deserialization of untrusted data flaws
- CVE-2021-23758, Ajax.NET Professional: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-63077, JetBrains TeamCity: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-50522, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-58644, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-45659, Microsoft SharePoint Server: deserialization of untrusted data ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-24990, TerraMaster OS: OS remote command execution ·
- CVE-2015-2291, Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows: denial-of-service ·
Every Fortra flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in February 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Fortra GoAnywhere MFT Remote Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 10 Feb 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-0669 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 6 Feb 2023.
- ^ Fortra. Advisories and fixes: my.goanywhere.com, infosec.exchange, rapid7.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 1.000, percentile 100.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-0669”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.