CVE-2023-45673Public exploit

Shell command execution via redirected PDF links

Published Jun 21, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Code injection in Joplin Desktop before 2.13.3 allows context-dependent attackers to execute shell commands through a clicked PDF link. The note-viewer iframe permits top-level redirection while Electron Node integration remains enabled, letting linked content invoke child_process after navigation. Execution requires a user to attach an untrusted PDF, click its embedded link, and have the tray icon enabled; that setting is enabled by default on Windows and macOS.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability1.03%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Joplin Desktop before 2.13.3 allows context-dependent attackers to execute shell commands through a clicked PDF link. The note-viewer iframe permits top-level redirection while Electron Node integration remains enabled, letting linked content invoke child_process after navigation. Execution requires a user to attach an untrusted PDF, click its embedded link, and have the tray icon enabled; that setting is enabled by default on Windows and macOS.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45673
Published
Jun 21, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Joplin Project
Product
Joplin
Classifications
CWE-94, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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

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=0 <2.13.3
  2. Affected versionversion=< 2.13.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Joplin Project · Joplinversion=0 <2.13.3; version=< 2.13.3

Published CVSS scores

8.9NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.1GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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