8.2
CWE
79
Advisory Published
Updated

CVE-2023-37898: Safe mode Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Joplin

First published: Fri Jun 21 2024(Updated: )

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application. A Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability allows an untrusted note opened in safe mode to execute arbitrary code. `packages/renderer/MarkupToHtml.ts` renders note content in safe mode by surrounding it with <pre> and </pre>, without escaping any interior HTML tags. Thus, an attacker can create a note that closes the opening <pre> tag, then includes HTML that runs JavaScript. Because the rendered markdown iframe has the same origin as the toplevel document and is not sandboxed, any scripts running in the preview iframe can access the top variable and, thus, access the toplevel NodeJS `require` function. `require` can then be used to import modules like fs or child_process and run arbitrary commands. This issue has been addressed in version 2.12.9 and all users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Credit: security-advisories@github.com

Affected SoftwareAffected VersionHow to fix
Joplin<2.12.9

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the severity of CVE-2023-37898?

    The severity of CVE-2023-37898 is categorized as high due to its potential for XSS attacks.

  • How do I fix CVE-2023-37898?

    To fix CVE-2023-37898, upgrade to Joplin version 2.12.10 or later where the vulnerability is patched.

  • What attack vector is exploited in CVE-2023-37898?

    CVE-2023-37898 exploits a Cross-site Scripting vulnerability through untrusted notes opened in safe mode.

  • Which versions of Joplin are affected by CVE-2023-37898?

    CVE-2023-37898 affects Joplin versions up to and including 2.12.9.

  • Does CVE-2023-37898 allow remote code execution?

    CVE-2023-37898 can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code if a malicious note is opened in safe mode.

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