HtmlUnit up to 3.8.x XSTL code injection

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in HtmlUnit up to 3.8.x. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component XSTL Handler. The manipulation leads to code injection. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2023-49093. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in HtmlUnit up to 3.8.x. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects an unknown functionality of the component XSTL Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

HtmlUnit is a GUI-less browser for Java programs. HtmlUnit is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) via XSTL, when browsing the attacker’s webpage. This vulnerability has been patched in version 3.9.0

The weakness was presented 12/04/2023 as GHSA-37vq-hr2f-g7h7. The advisory is shared at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-49093 since 11/21/2023. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1059 for this issue.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 259913 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-49093), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 3.9.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (259913). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Name

Version

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.5

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 8.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 9.8
CNA Vector (GitHub, Inc.): 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Code injection
CWE: CWE-94 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 259913
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-49093

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: HtmlUnit 3.9.0

Timelineinfo

11/21/2023 🔍
12/04/2023 +13 days 🔍
12/04/2023 +0 days 🔍
08/31/2025 +636 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: github.com

Advisory: GHSA-37vq-hr2f-g7h7
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-49093 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-49093
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-246653

Entryinfo

Created: 12/04/2023 07:21
Updated: 08/31/2025 19:36
Changes: 12/04/2023 07:21 (50), 12/22/2023 09:36 (11), 08/31/2025 19:36 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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