CVE-2023-41179
CVE-2023-41179 is a security flaw in Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security, business antivirus software. Attackers can run their own code on Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 21 Sep 2023.[1]
Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security 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 14.0.0.12380, 14.0.12637, 10.0 SP1 Build 2495 and 6.7.3578 / 14.3.1105.
Description
CISA calls it a remote code execution in Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security. In its words: “Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security contain an unspecified vulnerability in the third-party anti-virus uninstaller that could allow an attacker to manipulate the module to conduct remote code execution. An attacker must first obtain administrative console access on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A vulnerability in the 3rd party AV uninstaller module contained in Trend Micro Apex One (on-prem and SaaS), Worry-Free Business Security and Worry-Free Business Security Services could allow an attacker to manipulate the module to execute arbitrary commands on an affected installation. Note that an attacker must first obtain administrative console access on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.”[2]
The underlying weakness is code injection (CWE-94), 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 lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| Trend Micro Apex One | 14.0.0.12380 |
| Trend Micro Apex One | 14.0.12637 |
| Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security | 10.0 SP1 Build 2495 |
| Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security Services | 6.7.3578 / 14.3.1105 |
Most families won’t have Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 21 Sep 2023, 2 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 12 Oct 2023 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 4%. That’s in the top 10% 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
Trend Micro has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security 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 (fixed in version 14.0.0.12380, 14.0.12637, 10.0 SP1 Build 2495 and 6.7.3578 / 14.3.1105), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 12 Oct 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.[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 4%.[4] |
See also
Other Trend Micro flaws
- CVE-2026-34926, Trend Micro Apex One: (on-premise) directory traversal ·
- CVE-2025-54948, Trend Micro Apex One: OS command injection ·
- CVE-2022-40139, Trend Micro Apex One and Apex One as a Service: improper validation ·
- CVE-2022-26871, Trend Micro Apex Central: arbitrary file upload ·
- CVE-2021-36742, Trend Micro Apex One, Apex One as a Service, and Worry-Free Business Security: multiple products improper input validation ·
Other code injection flaws
- CVE-2026-0322, Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-65660, Microsoft SharePoint: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-60004, Gitea: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-72530, TrueConf Server: code injection ·
- CVE-2025-62593, Ray-Project Ray: code injection ·
Every Trend Micro flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Trend Micro Apex One and Worry-Free Business Security Remote Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 21 Sep 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-41179 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 19 Sep 2023.
- ^ Trend Micro. Advisories and fixes: success.trendmicro.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.042, percentile 91.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-41179”. 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.