CVE-2022-40277Public exploit

Command execution via unrestricted external-link schemes

Published Sep 30, 2022 · Updated May 20, 2025

Improper link validation in Joplin 2.8.8 allows remote attackers to execute commands when a malicious Markdown link is opened. The Markdown renderer passes an external link to shell.openExternal without restricting its URI scheme, allowing an operating-system handler to process a crafted target. Exploitation requires a user to open the supplied note and activate its link; the demonstrated Linux path executes commands with the Joplin process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link validation in Joplin 2.8.8 allows remote attackers to execute commands when a malicious Markdown link is opened. The Markdown renderer passes an external link to shell.openExternal without restricting its URI scheme, allowing an operating-system handler to process a crafted target. Exploitation requires a user to open the supplied note and activate its link; the demonstrated Linux path executes commands with the Joplin process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-40277
Published
Sep 30, 2022
Updated
May 20, 2025
Vendor
Joplin Project
Product
Joplin
Classifications
CWE-20, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 30, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 20, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.8.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Joplin Project · Joplinversion=2.8.8

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.7Fluid AttacksCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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