CVE-2023-5889Network attack vector

Continued account access via retained sessions

Published Nov 1, 2023 · Updated Sep 12, 2024

Session expiration failure in PKP Web Application Library before 3.3.0-16 allows remote authenticated users to retain access after disablement. UserDisableForm::execute marks the account disabled but fails to delete its existing session records, leaving those session tokens valid. An administrator must first disable an account while it has an active session; that account can continue using the application until the session expires.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Session expiration failure in PKP Web Application Library before 3.3.0-16 allows remote authenticated users to retain access after disablement. UserDisableForm::execute marks the account disabled but fails to delete its existing session records, leaving those session tokens valid. An administrator must first disable an account while it has an active session; that account can continue using the application until the session expires.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5889
Published
Nov 1, 2023
Updated
Sep 12, 2024
Vendor
Public Knowledge Project
Product
PKP Web Application Library
Classifications
CWE-613, T1550.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 1, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 12, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <3.3.0-16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Public Knowledge Project · PKP Web Application Libraryversion=unspecified <3.3.0-16

Published CVSS scores

4.3@huntrdevCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-613Insufficient Session Expiration
T1550.004Use Alternate Authentication Material: Web Session Cookie

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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