CVE-2023-53937
CVE-2023-53937 is a high-severity vulnerability in Hubstaff with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-427.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
- CVSS v4: 8.5
- EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (9th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-204363
- Weakness: CWE-427
- Affected product: Hubstaff
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Hubstaff 1.6.14 contains a DLL search order hijacking vulnerability that allows attackers to replace a missing system32 wow64log.dll with a malicious library. Attackers can generate a custom DLL using Metasploit and place it in the system32 directory to obtain a reverse shell during application startup.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2023-53937?
- Hubstaff 1.6.14 contains a DLL search order hijacking vulnerability that allows attackers to replace a missing system32 wow64log.dll with a malicious library. Attackers can generate a custom DLL using Metasploit and place it in the system32 directory to obtain a reverse shell during application startup.
- How severe is CVE-2023-53937?
- CVE-2023-53937 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2023-53937 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (9th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2023-53937?
- CVE-2023-53937 primarily affects Hubstaff. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2023-53937?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- Does CVE-2023-53937 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2023-53937 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-204363.
- When was CVE-2023-53937 published?
- CVE-2023-53937 was published on 2025-12-18 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://hubstaff.com/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51461
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/hubstaff-dll-search-order-hijacking-via-wowlog-library
Affected products (2)
- cpe:2.3:a:hubstaff:hubstaff:1.6.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:hubstaff:hubstaff:1.6.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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