CVE-2023-31045: Backdrop/backdrop Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-3862-c622-v4fp
Share
CVSS 4.8
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-31045 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Backdrop/backdrop libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves cross-site scripting in backdrop cms. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.24.2.

CVE-2023-31045 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-31045
GHSA Identifier GHSA-3862-c622-v4fp
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.8
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Backdrop/backdrop
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-31045

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Backdrop/backdrop dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

backdrop/backdrop fixed: 1.24.2 
Upgrade backdrop/backdrop to 1.24.2
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for backdrop/backdrop

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2023-31045, inspect your project dependencies for Backdrop/backdrop:

inspect dependencies for backdrop/backdrop

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Backdrop/backdrop in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.24.2), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Backdrop/backdrop, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

A stored Cross-site scripting (XSS) issue in Text Editors and Formats in Backdrop CMS before 1.24.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the name parameter. When a user is editing any content type (e.g., page, post, or card) as an admin, the stored XSS payload is executed upon selecting a malicious text formatting option. NOTE: the vendor disputes the security relevance of this finding because "any administrator that can configure a text format could easily allow Full HTML anywhere."

CVE-2023-31045 Affected Backdrop/backdrop Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.24.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
backdrop/backdrop
 Packagist
< 1.24.2
1.24.2

References

NVD — CVE-2023-31045 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-31045
Backdrop/backdrop Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop-issues/issues/6065
Backdrop/backdrop Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/backdrop-ops/backdrop-composer
Backdrop/backdrop Release RELEASE
https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.24.2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-31045?
CVE-2023-31045 is a security vulnerability in Backdrop/backdrop involving Cross-site Scripting in Backdrop CMS under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Backdrop/backdrop versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.24.2 across affected packages: backdrop/backdrop.
What version fixes CVE-2023-31045?
Upgrading to 1.24.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is backdrop/backdrop affected?
Yes, backdrop/backdrop is affected in releases prior to 1.24.2. Upgrade your dependency to 1.24.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-31045?
CVE-2023-31045 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-31045?
CVE-2023-31045 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2023-31045?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for backdrop/backdrop'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-3862-c622-v4fp",
  "modified" : "2024-08-02T10:31:21Z",
  "published" : "2023-04-24T09:30:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-31045" ],
  "summary" : "Cross-site Scripting in Backdrop CMS",
  "details" : "A stored Cross-site scripting (XSS) issue in Text Editors and Formats in Backdrop CMS before 1.24.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the name parameter. When a user is editing any content type (e.g., page, post, or card) as an admin, the stored XSS payload is executed upon selecting a malicious text formatting option. \n\nNOTE: the vendor disputes the security relevance of this finding because \"any administrator that can configure a text format could easily allow Full HTML anywhere.\"",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "backdrop/backdrop"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.24.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-31045"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop-issues/issues/6065"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/backdrop-ops/backdrop-composer"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.24.2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-04-24T22:33:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-04-24T08:15:07Z"
  }
}