CVE-2023-3431Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Local JSON disclosure via unchecked %load_json paths

Published Jun 27, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Improper access control in PlantUML before 1.2023.9 allows remote attackers to read local JSON files through crafted diagrams. The %load_json function accepts attacker-controlled file paths without applying the security-profile checks used for other file-reading directives, and it can also fetch URLs. Exposure requires an interface that renders untrusted diagram text; consequences are local JSON disclosure and server-side requests.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper access control in PlantUML before 1.2023.9 allows remote attackers to read local JSON files through crafted diagrams. The %load_json function accepts attacker-controlled file paths without applying the security-profile checks used for other file-reading directives, and it can also fetch URLs. Exposure requires an interface that renders untrusted diagram text; consequences are local JSON disclosure and server-side requests.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-3431
Published
Jun 27, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
PlantUML
Product
PlantUML
Classifications
CWE-284, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <1.2023.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

PlantUML · PlantUMLversion=unspecified <1.2023.9

Published CVSS scores

5.3UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
5.3GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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.

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

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo