# CVE-2023-45878: GibbonEdu Gibbon - Arbitrary File Upload

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-45878 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-45878

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** GibbonEdu Gibbon
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)
- **Tags:** web_application, php

## Description

GibbonEdu Gibbon version 25.0.1 and before allows Arbitrary File Write because rubrics_visualise_saveAjax.phps does not require authentication. The endpoint accepts the img, path, and gibbonPersonID parameters. The img parameter is expected to be a base64 encoded image. If the path parameter is set, the defined path is used as the destination folder, concatenated with the absolute path of the installation directory. The content of the img parameter is base64 decoded and written to the defined file path. This allows creation of PHP files that permit Remote Code Execution (unauthenticated).

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-45878](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-45878) is a critical unauthenticated vulnerability in GibbonEdu Gibbon that permits arbitrary file write, enabling attackers to potentially achieve remote code execution.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 20th of May 2025.

Insights from the CrowdSec network reveal that the attackers trying to exploit CVE-2023-45878 are composed of a fairly even mix of opportunistic and targeted actors. Some attackers employ preliminary reconnaissance, while others use indiscriminate scanning.
CrowdSec data also reveals a clear uptick in attacks involving CVE-2023-45878 over the past week. Activity is above the usual baseline, suggesting growing attention from attackers. This may reflect rising awareness, recent exploit releases, or expanded targeting efforts.

Observed exploitation attempts are focused on URLs containing `/modules/rubrics/rubrics_visualise_saveajax.php`.

## Timeline

- 2023-11-14: CVE Published. CVE-2023-45878 is published to NVD.
- 2025-05-20: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-45878 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-05-20: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2023-45878 for the first time.

## References

- https://herolab.usd.de/security-advisories/usd-2023-0025/
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-45878.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-45878) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-45878. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.