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CVE-2023-39517

Cross site scripting (XSS) when clicking on an untrusted `<map>` link in Joplin

8.2 High

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application. A Cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in affected versions allows clicking on an untrusted image link to execute arbitrary shell commands. The HTML sanitizer (packages/renderer/htmlUtils.ts::sanitizeHtml) preserves <map> <area> links. However, unlike <a> links, the target and href attributes are not removed. Additionally, because the note preview pane isn't sandboxed to prevent top navigation, links with target set to _top can replace the toplevel electron page. Because any toplevel electron page, with Joplin's setup, has access to require and can require node libraries, a malicious replacement toplevel page can import child_process and execute arbitrary shell commands. This issue has been fixed in commit 7c52c3e9a81a52ef1b42a951f9deb9d378d59b0f which is included in release version 2.12.8. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for 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
Low
Availability
Low

Exploit likelihood

0.48%Up 0.4 points since Jun 22, 2024
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.2

Cross site scripting (XSS) when clicking on an untrusted `<map>` link in Joplin

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application. A Cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in affected versions allows clicking on an untrusted image link to execute arbitrary shell commands. The HTML sanitizer (packages/renderer/htmlUtils.ts::sanitizeHtml) preserves <map> <area> links. However, unlike <a> links, the target and href attributes are not removed. Additionally, because the note preview pane isn't sandboxed to prevent top navigation, links with target set to _top can replace the toplevel electron page. Because any toplevel electron page, with Joplin's setup, has access to require and can require node libraries, a malicious replacement toplevel page can import child_process and execute arbitrary shell commands. This issue has been fixed in commit 7c52c3e9a81a52ef1b42a951f9deb9d378d59b0f which is included in release version 2.12.8. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
CVE-2023-39517
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
Weakness
CWE-79
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-43239 8.2

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application. A Cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in affected versions allows clicking on an untrusted image link to execute arbitrary shell commands. The HTML sanitizer (packages/renderer/htmlUtils.ts::sanitizeHtml) preserves <map> <area> links. However, unlike <a> links, the target and href attributes are not removed. Additionally, because the note preview pane isn't sandboxed to prevent top navigation, links with target set to _top can replace the toplevel electron page. Because any toplevel electron page, with Joplin's setup, has access to require and can require node libraries, a malicious replacement toplevel page can import child_process and execute arbitrary shell commands. This issue has been fixed in commit 7c52c3e9a81a52ef1b42a951f9deb9d378d59b0f which is included in release version 2.12.8. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
EUVD-2023-43239
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
Updated
2026-11-03
NVD 8.2

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application. A Cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in affected versions allows clicking on an untrusted image link to execute arbitrary shell commands. The HTML sanitizer (packages/renderer/htmlUtils.ts::sanitizeHtml) preserves <map> <area> links. However, unlike <a> links, the target and href attributes are not removed. Additionally, because the note preview pane isn't sandboxed to prevent top navigation, links with target set to _top can replace the toplevel electron page. Because any toplevel electron page, with Joplin's setup, has access to require and can require node libraries, a malicious replacement toplevel page can import child_process and execute arbitrary shell commands. This issue has been fixed in commit 7c52c3e9a81a52ef1b42a951f9deb9d378d59b0f which is included in release version 2.12.8. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
CVE-2023-39517
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
CVSS 3.1
5.4 MediumCVSS: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 8.2

Cross site scripting (XSS) when clicking on an untrusted `<map>` link in Joplin

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application. A Cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in affected versions allows clicking on an untrusted image link to execute arbitrary shell commands. The HTML sanitizer (packages/renderer/htmlUtils.ts::sanitizeHtml) preserves <map> <area> links. However, unlike <a> links, the target and href attributes are not removed. Additionally, because the note preview pane isn't sandboxed to prevent top navigation, links with target set to _top can replace the toplevel electron page. Because any toplevel electron page, with Joplin's setup, has access to require and can require node libraries, a malicious replacement toplevel page can import child_process and execute arbitrary shell commands. This issue has been fixed in commit 7c52c3e9a81a52ef1b42a951f9deb9d378d59b0f which is included in release version 2.12.8. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Record
CVE-2023-39517
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
Weakness
CWE-79
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliases, publishedEUVD
first indexedCVE List, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-39517 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.2) in Joplin Project Joplin, published June 21, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.48%, the 41st percentile. No source names a fixed version.

References

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