CVE-2023-2868 CRITICAL

CVE-2023-2868: Remote Code injection in Barracuda Email Security Gateway

Vendor Barracuda
Product Barracuda Email Security Gateway
Weakness CWE-20 · Input validation
KEV Status Known Exploited
Published May 24, 2023
Last update October 21, 2025

CVSS base score

9.4/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L

What the vulnerability does

01Description

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.

CISA mandated remediation

02CISA Required Action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Key dates

03Disclosure timeline

May 24, 2023 CVE published
October 21, 2025 Record updated