CVE-2023-38506Public exploit

Arbitrary command execution via unsanitized pasted HTML

Published Jun 21, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Cross-site scripting in Joplin Desktop 2.12.9 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by pasting crafted HTML. The rich text editor preserves an image onload handler, and its unsandboxed TinyMCE frame exposes Node.js require through top. Exploitation requires a user to copy attacker-controlled HTML and paste it into the rich text editor, after which child processes run with the desktop user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.42%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cross-site scripting in Joplin Desktop 2.12.9 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by pasting crafted HTML. The rich text editor preserves an image onload handler, and its unsandboxed TinyMCE frame exposes Node.js require through top. Exploitation requires a user to copy attacker-controlled HTML and paste it into the rich text editor, after which child processes run with the desktop user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38506
Published
Jun 21, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Joplin Project
Product
Joplin
Classifications
CWE-79, T1059, T1204
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 21, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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 <2.12.10
  2. Affected versionversion=< 2.12.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Joplin Project · Joplinversion=0 <2.12.10; version=< 2.12.10

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
7.3Joplin ProjectCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1204User 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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