CVE-2023-25571
Backstage has XSS Vulnerability in Software Catalog
Backstage is an open platform for building developer portals. @backstage/catalog-model prior to version 1.2.0, @backstage/core-components prior to 0.12.4, and @backstage/plugin-catalog-backend prior to 1.7.2 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with access to add or modify content in an instance of the Backstage software catalog to inject script URLs in the entities stored in the catalog. If users of the catalog then click on said URLs, that can lead to an XSS attack.
This vulnerability has been patched in both the frontend and backend implementations. The default Link component from @backstage/core-components version 1.2.0 and greater will now reject javascript: URLs, and there is a global override of window.open to do the same. In addition, the catalog model v0.12.4 and greater as well as the catalog backend v1.7.2 and greater now has additional validation built in that prevents javascript: URLs in known annotations. As a workaround, the general practice of limiting access to modifying catalog content and requiring code reviews greatly help mitigate this vulnerability.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Backstage has XSS Vulnerability in Software Catalog
Backstage is an open platform for building developer portals. @backstage/catalog-model prior to version 1.2.0, @backstage/core-components prior to 0.12.4, and @backstage/plugin-catalog-backend prior to 1.7.2 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with access to add or modify content in an instance of the Backstage software catalog to inject script URLs in the entities stored in the catalog. If users of the catalog then click on said URLs, that can lead to an XSS attack.
This vulnerability has been patched in both the frontend and backend implementations. The default Link component from @backstage/core-components version 1.2.0 and greater will now reject javascript: URLs, and there is a global override of window.open to do the same. In addition, the catalog model v0.12.4 and greater as well as the catalog backend v1.7.2 and greater now has additional validation built in that prevents javascript: URLs in known annotations. As a workaround, the general practice of limiting access to modifying catalog content and requiring code reviews greatly help mitigate this vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2023-25571- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-84, CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-0654
Backstage is an open platform for building developer portals. @backstage/catalog-model prior to version 1.2.0, @backstage/core-components prior to 0.12.4, and @backstage/plugin-catalog-backend prior to 1.7.2 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with access to add or modify content in an instance of the Backstage software catalog to inject script URLs in the entities stored in the catalog. If users of the catalog then click on said URLs, that can lead to an XSS attack.
This vulnerability has been patched in both the frontend and backend implementations. The default Link component from @backstage/core-components version 1.2.0 and greater will now reject javascript: URLs, and there is a global override of window.open to do the same. In addition, the catalog model v0.12.4 and greater as well as the catalog backend v1.7.2 and greater now has additional validation built in that prevents javascript: URLs in known annotations. As a workaround, the general practice of limiting access to modifying catalog content and requiring code reviews greatly help mitigate this vulnerability.
- Record
EUVD-2023-0654- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-7hv8-3fr9-j2hv
Cross site scripting Vulnerability in backstage Software Catalog
Impact
This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with access to add or modify content in an instance of the Backstage software catalog to inject script URLs in the entities stored in the catalog. If users of the catalog then click on said URLs, that can lead to an XSS attack.
Patches
This vulnerability has been patched in both the frontend and backend implementations. The default Link component from @backstage/core-components will now reject javascript: URLs, and there is a global override of window.open to do the same.
In addition the catalog model as well as the catalog backend now has additional validation built in that prevents javascript: URLs in known annotations.
Workarounds
The general practice of limiting access to modifying catalog content and requiring code reviews greatly helps mitigate this vulnerability.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in the Backstage repository
- Visit our chat, linked to in the Backstage README
- Record
GHSA-7hv8-3fr9-j2hv- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
Backstage is an open platform for building developer portals. @backstage/catalog-model prior to version 1.2.0, @backstage/core-components prior to 0.12.4, and @backstage/plugin-catalog-backend prior to 1.7.2 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with access to add or modify content in an instance of the Backstage software catalog to inject script URLs in the entities stored in the catalog. If users of the catalog then click on said URLs, that can lead to an XSS attack.
This vulnerability has been patched in both the frontend and backend implementations. The default Link component from @backstage/core-components version 1.2.0 and greater will now reject javascript: URLs, and there is a global override of window.open to do the same. In addition, the catalog model v0.12.4 and greater as well as the catalog backend v1.7.2 and greater now has additional validation built in that prevents javascript: URLs in known annotations. As a workaround, the general practice of limiting access to modifying catalog content and requiring code reviews greatly help mitigate this vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2023-25571- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.4 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79, CWE-84
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Backstage has XSS Vulnerability in Software Catalog
Backstage is an open platform for building developer portals. @backstage/catalog-model prior to version 1.2.0, @backstage/core-components prior to 0.12.4, and @backstage/plugin-catalog-backend prior to 1.7.2 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability. This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with access to add or modify content in an instance of the Backstage software catalog to inject script URLs in the entities stored in the catalog. If users of the catalog then click on said URLs, that can lead to an XSS attack.
This vulnerability has been patched in both the frontend and backend implementations. The default Link component from @backstage/core-components version 1.2.0 and greater will now reject javascript: URLs, and there is a global override of window.open to do the same. In addition, the catalog model v0.12.4 and greater as well as the catalog backend v1.7.2 and greater now has additional validation built in that prevents javascript: URLs in known annotations. As a workaround, the general practice of limiting access to modifying catalog content and requiring code reviews greatly help mitigate this vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2023-25571- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79, CWE-84
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-7hv8-3fr9-j2hv
Cross site scripting Vulnerability in backstage Software Catalog
Impact
This vulnerability allows a malicious actor with access to add or modify content in an instance of the Backstage software catalog to inject script URLs in the entities stored in the catalog. If users of the catalog then click on said URLs, that can lead to an XSS attack.
Patches
This vulnerability has been patched in both the frontend and backend implementations. The default Link component from @backstage/core-components will now reject javascript: URLs, and there is a global override of window.open to do the same.
In addition the catalog model as well as the catalog backend now has additional validation built in that prevents javascript: URLs in known annotations.
Workarounds
The general practice of limiting access to modifying catalog content and requiring code reviews greatly helps mitigate this vulnerability.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in the Backstage repository
- Visit our chat, linked to in the Backstage README
- Record
GHSA-7hv8-3fr9-j2hv- CVSS 3.1
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
@backstage/core-componentsnpm |
before 0.12.4 | 0.12.4 |
@backstage/catalog-modelnpm |
before 1.2.0 | 1.2.0 |
@backstage/plugin-catalog-backendnpm |
before 1.7.2 | 1.7.2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-25571 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.8) in Backstage, published February 14, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.45%, the 39th percentile. Fixed in @backstage/core-components 0.12.4.
References
github.com/backstage/backstage/security/advisories/GHSA-7hv8-3fr9-j2hv
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25571