CVE-2023-28443Public exploit

User impersonation via unredacted refresh-token cookies

Published Mar 23, 2023 · Updated Feb 21, 2025

Sensitive-data logging in Directus before 9.23.3 allows local users with log access to obtain refresh tokens and impersonate users. The HTTP logger serializes Cookie and Set-Cookie headers without removing the directus_refresh_token value, placing reusable credentials in log output. Access to shared cloud or log-aggregation output is required; exchanging a captured refresh token at /auth/refresh yields an access token for actions as the affected user.

CVSS severity4.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Sensitive-data logging in Directus before 9.23.3 allows local users with log access to obtain refresh tokens and impersonate users. The HTTP logger serializes Cookie and Set-Cookie headers without removing the directus_refresh_token value, placing reusable credentials in log output. Access to shared cloud or log-aggregation output is required; exchanging a captured refresh token at /auth/refresh yields an access token for actions as the affected user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28443
Published
Mar 23, 2023
Updated
Feb 21, 2025
Vendor
Directus
Product
Directus
Classifications
CWE-532, CWE-284, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 21, 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=< 9.23.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Directus · Directusversion=< 9.23.3

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.2GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-532Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
CWE-284Improper Access Control
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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