CVE-2023-42451
Mastodon Invalid Domain Name Normalization vulnerability
Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Prior to versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2, under certain circumstances, attackers can exploit a flaw in domain name normalization to spoof domains they do not own. Versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2 contain a patch for this issue.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Mastodon Invalid Domain Name Normalization vulnerability
Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Prior to versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2, under certain circumstances, attackers can exploit a flaw in domain name normalization to spoof domains they do not own. Versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2 contain a patch for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2023-42451- CVSS 3.1
- 7.4 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-706
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-46897
Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Prior to versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2, under certain circumstances, attackers can exploit a flaw in domain name normalization to spoof domains they do not own. Versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2 contain a patch for this issue.
- Record
EUVD-2023-46897- CVSS 3.1
- 7.4 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Prior to versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2, under certain circumstances, attackers can exploit a flaw in domain name normalization to spoof domains they do not own. Versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2 contain a patch for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2023-42451- CVSS 3.1
- 7.4 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-706
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Mastodon Invalid Domain Name Normalization vulnerability
Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Prior to versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2, under certain circumstances, attackers can exploit a flaw in domain name normalization to spoof domains they do not own. Versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0-rc2 contain a patch for this issue.
- Record
CVE-2023-42451- CVSS 3.1
- 7.4 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-706
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-mastodon-2023-42451 No score
Mastodon Invalid Domain Name Normalization vulnerability
Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Prior to versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0, under certain circumstances, attackers can exploit a flaw in domain name normalization to spoof domains they do not own. Versions 3.5.14, 4.0.10, 4.1.8, and 4.2.0 contain a patch for this issue.
- Record
BIT-mastodon-2023-42451- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
mastodonBitnami |
before 3.5.14, 4.0.0 up to 4.0.10, 4.1.0 up to 4.1.8 | 3.5.144.0.104.1.8 |
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-2023-42451 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.4) in Joinmastodon Mastodon, published September 19, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.67%, the 52nd percentile. Fixed in mastodon 3.5.14.