CVE-2023-39517
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.
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
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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L - 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
8.2
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 High
CVSS: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
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE 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
github.com/laurent22/joplin/security/advisories/GHSA-2h88-m32f-qh5m
github.com/laurent22/joplin/commit/7c52c3e9a81a52ef1b42a951f9deb9d378d59b0f
developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/iframe
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/39xxx/CVE-2023-39517.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-39517