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CVE-2023-2533

From Exploited flaws, HARD’s guide to the flaws being used in attacks · Checked
This article is about a flaw in PaperCut NG/MF. For every flaw being used in attacks, see Exploited flaws; for PaperCut’s, see PaperCut flaws being used in attacks.

CVE-2023-2533 is a security flaw in PaperCut NG/MF, printing software offices and schools use. Attackers can run their own code on PaperCut NG/MF. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 28 Jul 2025.[1]

PaperCut NG/MF 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. Fixed in version 2.1.1 of PaperCut NG/MF.

Description

CISA calls it a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) in PaperCut NG/MF. In its words: “PaperCut NG/MF contains a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability, which, under specific conditions, could potentially enable an attacker to alter security settings or execute arbitrary code.”[1]

The CVE record adds: “A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has been identified in PaperCut NG/MF, which, under specific conditions, could potentially enable an attacker to alter security settings or execute arbitrary code. This could be exploited if the target is an admin with a current login session. Exploiting this would typically involve the possibility of deceiving an admin into clicking a specially crafted malicious link, potentially leading to unauthorized changes.”[2]

The underlying weakness is cross-site request forgery (CWE-352), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.

It scores 8.8 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 lists one fixed version: everything before it is affected.[2]

ProductFixed in
PaperCut NG/MF2.1.1

Most families won’t have PaperCut NG/MF; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.

Exploitation

CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 28 Jul 2025, 769 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 18 Aug 2025 to fix it.[1]

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 29%. That’s in the top 2% 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

PaperCut has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]

  1. Check whether you use it.PaperCut NG/MF 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.
  2. Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 2.1.1 of PaperCut NG/MF), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 18 Aug 2025 to fix it.
  3. 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

DateEvent
The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 8.8.[2]
CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[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 29%.[4]

See also

Other PaperCut NG/MF flaws

Other PaperCut flaws

  • CVE-2023-27350, PaperCut MF/NG: improper access control ·

Other cross-site request forgery flaws

  • CVE-2008-4128, Cisco IOS: cross-site request forgery ·
  • CVE-2014-100005, D-Link DIR-600 Router: cross-site request forgery (CSRF) ·
  • CVE-2016-6277, NETGEAR Multiple Routers: remote code execution ·
  • CVE-2020-10181, Sumavision Enhanced Multimedia Router (EMR): EMR cross-site request forgery (CSRF) ·

Added the same day

  • CVE-2025-20337, Cisco Identity Services Engine: injection ·
  • CVE-2025-20281, Cisco Identity Services Engine: injection ·

Every PaperCut flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in July 2025

References

  1. ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “PaperCut NG/MF Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 28 Jul 2025.
  2. ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-2533 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 20 Jun 2023.
  3. ^ PaperCut. Advisories and fixes: papercut.com.
  4. ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.288, percentile 98.1, 31 Oct 2026.
  5. CVE Program. “CVE-2023-2533”. 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.