CVE-2020-22783Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Password disclosure via cleartext session storage

Published Apr 28, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Cleartext password storage in Etherpad before 1.8.3 allows attackers with database or log access to read user credentials. SessionStore.set passes the session object, including sess.user.password, directly to db.set, so every supported backend receives the cleartext credential and the same value can enter logs. Exploitation requires access to stored session records or logs; the bounded consequence is disclosure of user and administrator passwords.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.64%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cleartext password storage in Etherpad before 1.8.3 allows attackers with database or log access to read user credentials. SessionStore.set passes the session object, including sess.user.password, directly to db.set, so every supported backend receives the cleartext credential and the same value can enter logs. Exploitation requires access to stored session records or logs; the bounded consequence is disclosure of user and administrator passwords.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-22783
Published
Apr 28, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-312, T1552.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 28, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-312Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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