CVE-2023-38487Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Note impersonation via alias-ID collision

Published Aug 4, 2023 · Updated Oct 3, 2024

Authentication bypass in HedgeDoc 1.9.8 and earlier allows remote attackers to hide or impersonate notes through a crafted alias. The /new/ handler accepts an existing note ID as an alias without checking ID collisions, while note lookup resolves aliases before IDs. Exploitation requires freeURL mode and knowledge of the target note ID; access can be anonymous or restricted to authenticated users, and original data remains stored.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.79%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in HedgeDoc 1.9.8 and earlier allows remote attackers to hide or impersonate notes through a crafted alias. The /new/ handler accepts an existing note ID as an alias without checking ID collisions, while note lookup resolves aliases before IDs. Exploitation requires freeURL mode and knowledge of the target note ID; access can be anonymous or restricted to authenticated users, and original data remains stored.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38487
Published
Aug 4, 2023
Updated
Oct 3, 2024
Vendor
HedgeDoc
Product
HedgeDoc
Classifications
CWE-289, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 3, 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 <1.9.9
  2. Affected versionversion=< 1.9.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

HedgeDoc · HedgeDocversion=0 <1.9.9; version=< 1.9.9

Published CVSS scores

6.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L
8.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L

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-289Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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