CVE-2023-38690Network attack vector

IRC command injection via newline-containing channel names

Published Aug 4, 2023 · Updated Oct 8, 2024

Command injection in Matrix.org matrix-appservice-irc 1.0.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to issue IRC commands as the bridge bot. The admin-command parser splits arguments only on literal spaces, so a newline embedded in a channel name reaches the IRC client as another command. Access as a Matrix user is required; dynamic channels provide the common path, and injected commands execute with the bridge bot's IRC privileges.

CVSS severity5.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Matrix.org matrix-appservice-irc 1.0.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to issue IRC commands as the bridge bot. The admin-command parser splits arguments only on literal spaces, so a newline embedded in a channel name reaches the IRC client as another command. Access as a Matrix user is required; dynamic channels provide the common path, and injected commands execute with the bridge bot's IRC privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38690
Published
Aug 4, 2023
Updated
Oct 8, 2024
Vendor
Matrix.org
Product
matrix-appservice-irc
Classifications
CWE-20
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 8, 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 <1.0.1
  2. Affected versionversion=< 1.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Matrix.org · matrix-appservice-ircversion=0 <1.0.1; version=< 1.0.1

Published CVSS scores

5.8CVE Program CNA recordCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
5.0GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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