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CriticalCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Unauthenticated Authentication Bypass and RCE in PaperCut MF/NG

IdentifiersCVE-2023-27350CWE-284· Improper Access Control

CVE-2023-27350 is a critical improper access control vulnerability in PaperCut MF/NG affecting PaperCut MF or NG version 8.0 or later, including documented affected ranges 8.0.0 through 19.2.7, 20.0.0 through 20.1.6, 21.0.0 through 21.2.10, and 22.0.0 through 22.0.8. The flaw exists within the SetupCompleted class and allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to bypass authentication on exposed PaperCut application servers. Public reporting and government/vendor advisories indicate the authentication bypass can be chained with built-in product functionality, particularly the print scripting interface and in some cases User/Group Sync features, to execute arbitrary commands remotely. Because the PaperCut application server process (pc-app.exe) runs with elevated privileges, exploitation can result in code execution as SYSTEM on Windows or root on Linux. The vulnerability was observed being actively exploited in the wild beginning in April 2023.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation permits unauthenticated remote compromise of vulnerable PaperCut MF/NG servers. Attackers can bypass authentication, gain administrative-level access to application functionality, and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the PaperCut application service. On Windows this is reported as SYSTEM; on Linux, root-level execution has been noted. Real-world exploitation has been associated with initial access for ransomware operations, deployment of malware such as TrueBot, Cobalt Strike, revsocks, and XMRig, data exfiltration, lateral movement, persistence, and in some incidents encryption of victim systems.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, restrict or block external access to the PaperCut web management/application interfaces, specifically inbound access to ports 9191 and 9192, and limit access to trusted administrative sources. PaperCut guidance also recommends allow-listing verified Site Server IPs in advanced security settings. Defenders should monitor for exploitation indicators such as requests to /app?service=page/SetupCompleted, suspicious use of printer scripting or User/Group Sync, and child processes such as cmd.exe or powershell.exe spawned by pc-app.exe. Where patching was delayed or exposure existed, CISA/FBI guidance recommends treating the server as potentially compromised.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade to a fixed PaperCut MF/NG release. The content identifies patched versions as 20.1.7, 21.2.11, 22.0.9, or later, as appropriate for the deployment. PaperCut also advised customers on unsupported/end-of-life releases to move to supported versions. If compromise is suspected, agencies and vendors advised assuming breach, rebuilding affected servers, and conducting incident response rather than relying solely on patching an already-compromised host.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

8 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (3 hidden).

VALID 8 / 11 TOTALView more in app
PaperCut-Authentication_Bypass_and_RCEMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This is a small standalone exploit repository for CVE-2023-27350 targeting PaperCut NG/MF. The repository contains only three files: LICENSE, README.md, and a single Python exploit script (exploit.py). The code is not part of a larger exploitation framework; it is a self-contained operational exploit that automates authentication bypass, configuration changes, malicious script injection, and delivery of a Java payload. The exploit flow is straightforward: it first abuses the unauthenticated /app?service=page/SetupCompleted endpoint to obtain an authenticated administrative session. It then parses the returned HTML to estimate the major PaperCut version. For versions 19 and newer, it uses ConfigEditor POST requests to enable print scripting (print-and-device.script.enabled=Y) and disable sandboxing (print.script.sandboxed=N). Next, it selects a hardcoded printer object (l1001) and submits a malicious RhinoJS print script through the PrinterDetails form. That script constructs a java.net.URLClassLoader pointing to an attacker-controlled URL hosting payload.jar, loads the payload's Main-Class, instantiates it, and invokes main([]), resulting in arbitrary code execution inside the PaperCut JVM. The script also starts a minimal local HTTP server using Python's http.server/socketserver modules to serve the attacker-provided JAR exactly once. It reads META-INF/MANIFEST.MF from the JAR to determine the Main-Class automatically, defaulting to metasploit.Payload if none is found. The README instructs the operator to generate the JAR with msfvenom using java/shell_reverse_tcp and to catch the callback with netcat, so the intended end result is a reverse shell. Notable implementation details: TLS verification is disabled; success detection for the auth bypass is based on HTTP 200 and presence of the string 'papercut' in the response body; printer ID l1001 is hardcoded; and the exploit attempts to restore the modified PaperCut settings after execution. Overall, this repository is a real exploit, not a detector, and provides authenticated bypass plus RCE capability against vulnerable PaperCut instances that can reach the attacker's HTTP server.

joaoaugustomDisclosed May 30, 2026pythonmarkdownwebnetwork
CVE-2023-27350MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Bash exploit script (rce.sh) targeting CVE-2023-27350, a critical authentication bypass and remote code execution vulnerability in PaperCut NG/MG print management software. The exploit automates the process of bypassing authentication, enabling the printer scripting engine, disabling its sandbox, and injecting a malicious script that executes arbitrary system commands on the server. The script interacts with the PaperCut web interface over HTTP(S), optionally via a proxy, and requires the attacker to specify the target URL and command to execute. The README provides usage instructions and example payloads, including reverse shell callbacks. The exploit is operational, providing real RCE if the target is vulnerable and properly configured. No detection-only scripts are present; the code is a working exploit. The only code file is rce.sh, with LICENSE and README.md providing documentation and legal information.

dezso-dfieldDisclosed Dec 19, 2025bashnetwork
CVE-2023-27350MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Python proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-27350, a critical authentication bypass and remote code execution vulnerability in PaperCut MF/NG (version 8.0 or later, unpatched). The exploit consists of a single Python script (CVE-2023-27350.py) and a README.md file. The script automates the exploitation process by first bypassing authentication to obtain a valid session, then enabling and abusing the PaperCut scripting functionality to execute arbitrary system commands on the server. The exploit interacts with the PaperCut web interface via HTTP requests to specific endpoints, and can be used to run any command supplied by the attacker. The README provides usage instructions and mitigation advice. The exploit is operational and demonstrates real-world impact, allowing unauthenticated attackers with network access to the PaperCut web interface to achieve remote code execution.

Royall-ResearchersDisclosed Jul 5, 2025pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-27350-PoCMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-27350, targeting PaperCut MF/NG web applications. The exploit is implemented in a single Python script (cve-2023-27350.py) and is accompanied by a README.md that explains the vulnerability and usage. The script takes a target IP address as input and attempts to access the PaperCut web interface on port 9191. It first checks the version by accessing the SetupCompleted page, then demonstrates how to bypass authentication by directly visiting the Dashboard page. If successful, this grants the attacker unauthenticated access to the admin panel, allowing them to review or change system settings. The exploit is a network-based web exploit and does not require valid credentials. The repository is structured simply, with one exploit script and a README providing context and usage instructions.

0xB0y426Disclosed Apr 14, 2025pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-27350MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Python exploit (exploit.py) targeting CVE-2023-27350, an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in PaperCut MF/NG servers prior to version 22.0.8. The exploit leverages improper access controls in the SetupCompleted Java class to bypass authentication and gain administrative access. It then reconfigures the server to enable scripting and disables sandboxing, allowing the injection of a malicious print script that executes arbitrary system commands via java.lang.Runtime.getRuntime().exec(). The exploit provides an interactive shell for the attacker, running commands as SYSTEM/root. The script attempts to revert configuration changes on exit or when interrupted. The main attack vector is network-based, requiring access to the PaperCut web interface. The endpoints targeted are various /app HTTP endpoints used for authentication bypass, configuration changes, and command execution. The repository consists of a single exploit script and a README with usage instructions and warnings.

monke443Disclosed Mar 9, 2025pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-27350MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository provides a Python script (papercut.py) that targets CVE-2023-27350, an authentication bypass vulnerability in PaperCut MF/NG print management software. The script is designed for mass scanning: it takes a file containing a list of domain names or IP addresses, then uses multithreading to check each target for the vulnerability. It does this by sending HTTP requests to specific endpoints (/app?service=page/SetupCompleted and /app?service=page/Dashboard) and parsing the responses to determine if authentication can be bypassed and to extract the PaperCut version. Results are saved to a Results/Results.txt file. The repository also includes a README.md with usage instructions and a requirements.txt listing Python dependencies. The exploit is a proof-of-concept for mass vulnerability assessment, not a weaponized exploit, and does not provide post-exploitation payloads.

ThatNotEasyDisclosed May 27, 2023pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-27350MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a proof-of-concept (POC) exploit for CVE-2023-27350, an authentication bypass and remote code execution vulnerability in PaperCut MF/NG. The main file, 'CVE-2023-27350.py', is a Python script that automates exploitation by first bypassing authentication to obtain a valid session, then abusing the application's scripting functionality to execute arbitrary system commands on the target server. The exploit interacts with the PaperCut web interface via HTTP requests, modifying configuration settings to enable scripting and disable sandboxing, and then injects a malicious script to trigger command execution. The script is parameterized to allow the user to specify the target URL and the command to execute. The README provides usage instructions, technical background, and mitigation advice. The exploit is network-based and targets PaperCut servers accessible over HTTP(S). Notable endpoints include the PaperCut web interface (e.g., 'http://10.0.40.56:9191/app') and a hardcoded callback URL used in a sample payload. The repository is structured simply, with one exploit script and a README.

horizon3aiDisclosed Apr 22, 2023pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-27350MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository provides a Python-based proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-27350, a critical unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in PaperCut MF/NG. The main exploit script (CVE-2023-27350.py) allows an attacker to: - Check if one or more PaperCut servers are vulnerable (via a single URL or a file of IPs) - Exploit the vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands or obtain a reverse shell as SYSTEM on the target The exploit works by interacting with the PaperCut web management interface, modifying configuration settings to enable scripting, and injecting a malicious script that executes attacker-supplied commands. The script supports both direct command execution and reverse shell payloads. The repository includes a README with detailed usage instructions, a requirements.txt for dependencies (argparse, requests), and standard project files. The attack vector is network-based, targeting the HTTP interface of PaperCut servers. The exploit is operational and can be used for real-world attacks if the target is unpatched.

adhikara13Disclosed Apr 25, 2023pythonnetwork
EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
PaperCut SoftwarePapercut Mfapplication
PaperCut SoftwarePapercut Ngapplication

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence65

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware17

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures2

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity4

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

Unauthenticated Authentication Bypass and RCE in PaperCut MF/NG (CVE-2023-27350) | Mallory