CVE-2023-49093Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via unsecured XSLT transformation

Published Dec 4, 2023 · Updated Oct 10, 2024

Code injection in HtmlUnit before 3.9.0 allows remote attackers to execute code when an application browses a crafted webpage. The XSLProcessor.transform method creates a Transformer from page-supplied XSLT without enabling FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING, leaving Java extension functions available. Exploitation requires the embedding application to load attacker-controlled content through Internet Explorer emulation, after which the XSLT executes commands with the application process privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.38%
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 HtmlUnit before 3.9.0 allows remote attackers to execute code when an application browses a crafted webpage. The XSLProcessor.transform method creates a Transformer from page-supplied XSLT without enabling FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING, leaving Java extension functions available. Exploitation requires the embedding application to load attacker-controlled content through Internet Explorer emulation, after which the XSLT executes commands with the application process privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-49093
Published
Dec 4, 2023
Updated
Oct 10, 2024
Vendor
HtmlUnit
Product
HtmlUnit
Classifications
CWE-94, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 10, 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=< 3.9.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

HtmlUnit · HtmlUnitversion=< 3.9.0

Published CVSS scores

9.8GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1203Exploitation for Client 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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