CVE-2023-0741Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Script execution via unvalidated Markdown autolinks

Published Feb 8, 2023 · Updated Mar 25, 2025

DOM-based cross-site scripting in Apache Answer before 1.0.4 allows remote authenticated users to execute script through crafted autolinks. The Markdown converter omits automatic links from its custom URL-validation path and emits their destinations and labels without the validation and escaping added by the patch. A low-privilege account and a victim who follows the generated link are required; script runs in the victim's browser context and can access or alter data available to that session.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DOM-based cross-site scripting in Apache Answer before 1.0.4 allows remote authenticated users to execute script through crafted autolinks. The Markdown converter omits automatic links from its custom URL-validation path and emits their destinations and labels without the validation and escaping added by the patch. A low-privilege account and a victim who follows the generated link are required; script runs in the victim's browser context and can access or alter data available to that session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0741
Published
Feb 8, 2023
Updated
Mar 25, 2025
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Answer
Classifications
CWE-79, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 25, 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=unspecified <1.0.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Answerversion=unspecified <1.0.4

Published CVSS scores

9.0GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.0Huntr CNACVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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