CVE-2023-33977
Stored cross site scripting (XSS) via unrestricted file upload in Kiwi TCMS
Kiwi TCMS is an open source test management system for both manual and automated testing. Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks. The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy. This issue has been addressed in version 12.4. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade who are serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy should make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefining them inside the proxy configuration.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.1
Stored cross site scripting (XSS) via unrestricted file upload in Kiwi TCMS
Kiwi TCMS is an open source test management system for both manual and automated testing. Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks. The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy. This issue has been addressed in version 12.4. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade who are serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy should make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefining them inside the proxy configuration.
- Record
CVE-2023-33977- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-1663
8.1
Kiwi TCMS is an open source test management system for both manual and automated testing. Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks. The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy. This issue has been addressed in version 12.4. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade who are serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy should make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefining them inside the proxy configuration.
- Record
EUVD-2023-1663- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98
8.1
kiwitcms vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting via unrestricted file upload
Impact
Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks.
The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy.
Patches
- Improved file upload validation code
- Updated Nginx reverse proxy configuration for *.tenant.kiwitcms.org
Workarounds
If serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefine them inside the proxy configuration. See etc/nginx.conf#L66-L68 and etc/nginx.conf#L87
References
Disclosed by M Nadeem Qazi.
- Record
GHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79, CWE-434
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.1
Kiwi TCMS is an open source test management system for both manual and automated testing. Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks. The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy. This issue has been addressed in version 12.4. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade who are serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy should make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefining them inside the proxy configuration.
- Record
CVE-2023-33977- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.1
Stored cross site scripting (XSS) via unrestricted file upload in Kiwi TCMS
Kiwi TCMS is an open source test management system for both manual and automated testing. Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks. The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy. This issue has been addressed in version 12.4. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade who are serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy should make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefining them inside the proxy configuration.
- Record
CVE-2023-33977- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98
8.1
kiwitcms vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting via unrestricted file upload
Impact
Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks.
The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy.
Patches
- Improved file upload validation code
- Updated Nginx reverse proxy configuration for *.tenant.kiwitcms.org
Workarounds
If serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefine them inside the proxy configuration. See etc/nginx.conf#L66-L68 and etc/nginx.conf#L87
References
Disclosed by M Nadeem Qazi.
- Record
GHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-434, CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-1495
8.1
kiwitcms vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting via unrestricted file upload
Impact
Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks.
The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy.
Patches
- Improved file upload validation code
- Updated Nginx reverse proxy configuration for *.tenant.kiwitcms.org
Workarounds
If serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefine them inside the proxy configuration. See etc/nginx.conf#L66-L68 and etc/nginx.conf#L87
References
Disclosed by M Nadeem Qazi.
- Record
PYSEC-2026-1495- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
kiwitcmsPyPI |
through 12.3 | 12.4 |
kiwitcmsPyPI |
before 12.4, plus listed versions 10.010.110.210.310.3.999 Show 43 moreShow less10.410.511.011.111.311.411.511.611.712.012.112.212.36.106.116.2.16.36.46.56.5.36.66.76.86.97.07.17.27.2.17.38.08.18.1.998.28.38.48.58.68.6.18.78.88.99.09.999 |
12.4 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | mnqazi/CVE-2023-33977 | 2023-06-01 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, products | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-33977 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) in Kiwitcms Kiwi, published June 6, 2023. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.87%, the 59th percentile. Fixed in kiwitcms 12.4.
References
github.com/kiwitcms/Kiwi/security/advisories/GHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98
github.com/kiwitcms/Kiwi/commit/d789f4b51025de4f8c747c037d02e1b0da80b034
github.com/kiwitcms/Kiwi/blob/master/etc/nginx.conf
huntr.dev/bounties/6aea9a26-e29a-467b-aa5a-f767f0c2ec96
github.com/kiwitcms/kiwi/commit/d789f4b51025de4f8c747c037d02e1b0da80b034
kiwitcms.org/blog/kiwi-tcms-team/2023/06/06/kiwi-tcms-124