CVE-2023-30591Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated service termination via non-string event names

Published Sep 29, 2023 · Updated Sep 23, 2024

Improper Socket.IO event handling in NodeBB 2.8.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to terminate the forum service. The onMessage handler in src/socket.io/index.js assumes each event name is a string, so array and object values trigger uncaught TypeErrors in startsWith() or toString(). No authentication is required; repeated worker crashes within ten seconds make the cluster manager exit and keep the forum unavailable.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability53.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper Socket.IO event handling in NodeBB 2.8.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to terminate the forum service. The onMessage handler in src/socket.io/index.js assumes each event name is a string, so array and object values trigger uncaught TypeErrors in startsWith() or toString(). No authentication is required; repeated worker crashes within ten seconds make the cluster manager exit and keep the forum unavailable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-30591
Published
Sep 29, 2023
Updated
Sep 23, 2024
Vendor
NodeBB
Product
NodeBB
Classifications
CWE-241, CAPEC-153, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 29, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 23, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=2.8.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NodeBB · NodeBBversion=0 <=2.8.10

Published CVSS scores

7.5STAR Labs SG Pte. Ltd.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-241Improper Handling of Unexpected Data Type
CAPEC-153Input Data Manipulation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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