CVE Tools
Sign in

CVE-2023-2868

Remote Code injection in Barracuda Email Security Gateway

Published: May 24, 2023Updated: Oct 24, 2025 Sources: CVE List NVD BDUCWE-20
NVD MITRE
9.4CVSSCRITICAL
EPSS Score
87.0%
Top 0.3%
CISA KEV
Active Exploitation
Since May 26, 2023
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
Patch Available

Description

A remote command injection vulnerability exists in the Barracuda Email Security Gateway (appliance form factor only) product effecting versions 5.1.3.001-9.2.0.006. The vulnerability arises out of a failure to comprehensively sanitize the processing of .tar file (tape archives). The vulnerability stems from incomplete input validation of a user-supplied .tar file as it pertains to the names of the files contained within the archive. As a consequence, a remote attacker can specifically format these file names in a particular manner that will result in remotely executing a system command through Perl's qx operator with the privileges of the Email Security Gateway product. This issue was fixed as part of BNSF-36456 patch. This patch was automatically applied to all customer appliances.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:L
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:LAvailability
Low
Open in CVSS calculator →

Weaknesses

CWE-20CWE-77

Affected Products

Email Security Gateway 300Barracuda Networks, Inc.
Email Security Gateway 400Barracuda Networks, Inc.
Email Security Gateway 600Barracuda Networks, Inc.
Email Security Gateway 800Barracuda Networks, Inc.
Email Security Gateway 900Barracuda Networks, Inc.
barracuda networks, inc.commercialaka barracuda
and 6 more affected products View all →

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes to view MITRE ATT&CK details. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan.

Exploitability

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Added to KEV:May 26, 2023
Remediation due:Jun 16, 2023

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Official Patch Available
Workaround Available

MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Execution
Initial Access
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://status.barracuda.com/incidents/34kx82j5n4q9
status.barracuda.com
https://www.barracuda.com/company/legal/esg-vulnerability
barracuda.com
https://cybergeeks.tech/a-technical-analysis-of-the-saltwater-backdoor-used-in-barracuda-0-day-vulnerability-cve-2023-2868-exploitation/
cybergeeks.tech
and 3 more references View all →

Timeline

Published
May 24, 2023
Added to CISA KEV
May 26, 2023
Last Updated
Oct 24, 2025

Unlock Complete Vulnerability Intelligence

Get the full picture for CVE-2023-2868 and every CVE in our database. Create a free account — no credit card required.

Create Free Account
Plain-language analysis
Impact assessment and exploitation scenario in plain English
Attack graph visualization
Interactive attack path and kill chain mapping
Exploit details & PoC links
ExploitDB, Metasploit, GitHub PoCs with direct links
Nuclei scanner templates
Ready-to-use vulnerability scanner templates
Full remediation guide
Patch instructions, workarounds, and compliance impact
Interactive AI chat
Ask questions about this vulnerability in natural language
Related vulnerabilities
Semantically similar CVEs and attack patterns
REST API & MCP access
Integrate vulnerability data into your workflows