CVE-2023-0109 in memos
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2024
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability was discovered in usememos/memos version 0.9.1. This vulnerability allows an attacker to upload a JavaScript file containing a malicious script and reference it in an HTML file. When the HTML file is accessed, the malicious script is executed. This can lead to the theft of sensitive information, such as login credentials, from users visiting the affected website. The issue has been fixed in version 0.10.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2025
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0109 resides within the usememos/memos platform version 0.9.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables persistent malicious code execution. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector where adversaries can upload JavaScript files containing malicious payloads and subsequently reference these scripts within HTML documents. The exploitation mechanism leverages the platform's handling of user-uploaded content, creating a persistent threat that remains active until the vulnerable system is updated. The vulnerability's classification as stored XSS aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where malicious scripts are stored on the target server and executed when other users access the compromised content. This particular implementation allows attackers to maintain control over the victim's browser session and extract sensitive data through various techniques including credential harvesting and session manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially elevated privileges within the memos platform. When users access HTML files containing the malicious references, the JavaScript code executes within their browser context, creating a vector for comprehensive session hijacking and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond normal platform usage, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users regularly access shared or collaborative content. Attackers can craft malicious scripts that capture keystrokes, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious domains, or even inject additional malware into the victim's system. The persistence of this vulnerability means that even after initial exploitation, the malicious code continues to execute whenever the affected HTML content is accessed, creating a long-term threat that can compromise multiple users over time.
Security professionals must recognize this vulnerability as a significant risk to web application integrity and user data protection, particularly in collaborative environments where content sharing is prevalent. The fix implemented in version 0.10.0 addresses the root cause through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the patched version and conduct thorough security assessments of all user-uploaded content that may have been compromised. The vulnerability's presence in a document management platform like memos creates additional risk as users may unknowingly access malicious content while performing routine operations, making this attack vector particularly insidious. Security controls should include mandatory content validation, regular security scanning of uploaded files, and user education regarding the risks of accessing untrusted content within collaborative platforms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper content validation and sanitization protocols, which are fundamental requirements for web application security. According to ATT&CK framework category T1566, this vulnerability represents a technique for Initial Access through malicious file uploads, while also mapping to T1071 for application layer protocol usage and T1531 for credential access through session hijacking. Organizations implementing similar collaborative platforms must establish robust content security policies that include automatic malware scanning, file type restrictions, and strict input validation measures. The vulnerability highlights the importance of defense-in-depth strategies where multiple security layers protect against various attack vectors, including proper access controls, secure coding practices, and regular security updates. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual content access patterns or attempts to upload suspicious files, providing early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.