CVE-2023-51445Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Stored XSS via inline REST resource rendering

Published Mar 20, 2024 · Updated Aug 21, 2024

Stored XSS in GeoServer's REST Resources API before 2.23.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript in another administrator's browser. ResourceController serves user-uploaded style or legend files inline using a guessed MIME type, without sanitizing their contents or forcing download. Exploitation requires permission to upload a resource and a full administrator to view it, enabling access or actions in that administrator's session.

CVSS severity4.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stored XSS in GeoServer's REST Resources API before 2.23.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript in another administrator's browser. ResourceController serves user-uploaded style or legend files inline using a guessed MIME type, without sanitizing their contents or forcing download. Exploitation requires permission to upload a resource and a full administrator to view it, enabling access or actions in that administrator's session.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-51445
Published
Mar 20, 2024
Updated
Aug 21, 2024
Vendor
GeoWebCache
Product
GeoServer
Classifications
CWE-79, T1185
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 20, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 21, 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 <2.23.3
  2. Affected versionversion=< 2.23.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

GeoWebCache · GeoServerversion=0 <2.23.3; version=< 2.23.3

Published CVSS scores

4.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
4.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/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.

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1185Browser Session Cookie

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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