CVE-2023-1932: Hibernate validator Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-x83m-pf6f-pf9g
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CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-1932 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Hibernate validator libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves hibernate-validator cross-site scripting vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 6.2.0.Final.

CVE-2023-1932 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-1932
GHSA Identifier GHSA-x83m-pf6f-pf9g
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Hibernate validator
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
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-2023-1932

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

org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator fixed: 6.2.0.Final 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.hibernate.validator</groupId>
    <artifactId>hibernate-validator</artifactId>
    <version>6.2.0.Final</version>
</dependency>
org.hibernate:hibernate-validator fixed: 6.2.0.Final 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.hibernate</groupId>
    <artifactId>hibernate-validator</artifactId>
    <version>6.2.0.Final</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.hibernate.validator

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-1932, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.hibernate.validator

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Hibernate validator in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 6.2.0.Final), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.hibernate.validator command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

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 Hibernate validator, 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 flaw was found in hibernate-validator's 'isValid' method in the org.hibernate.validator.internal.constraintvalidators.hv.SafeHtmlValidator class, which can be bypassed by omitting the tag ending in a less-than character. Browsers may render an invalid html, allowing HTML injection or Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS) attacks.

CVE-2023-1932 Affected Hibernate validator Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
6.2.0.Final
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator
maven/org.hibernate.validator/hibernate-validator
Maven
< 6.2.0.Final
6.2.0.Final
org.hibernate:hibernate-validator
maven/org.hibernate/hibernate-validator
Maven
< 6.2.0.Final
6.2.0.Final

References

NVD — CVE-2023-1932 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1932
Hibernate validator Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-1932
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1809444
Hibernate validator Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-1932?
CVE-2023-1932 is a security vulnerability in Hibernate validator involving hibernate-validator Cross-site Scripting vulnerability under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Hibernate validator versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 6.2.0.Final across affected packages: org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator, org.hibernate:hibernate-validator.
What version fixes CVE-2023-1932?
Upgrading to 6.2.0.Final (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is hibernate-validator affected?
Yes, org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator is affected in releases prior to 6.2.0.Final. Upgrade your dependency to 6.2.0.Final or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-1932?
CVE-2023-1932 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-1932?
CVE-2023-1932 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 Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-1932?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.hibernate.validator'. 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-x83m-pf6f-pf9g",
  "modified" : "2025-09-12T17:35:27Z",
  "published" : "2024-11-07T12:30:34Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-1932" ],
  "summary" : "hibernate-validator Cross-site Scripting vulnerability",
  "details" : "A flaw was found in hibernate-validator's 'isValid' method in the org.hibernate.validator.internal.constraintvalidators.hv.SafeHtmlValidator class, which can be bypassed by omitting the tag ending in a less-than character. Browsers may render an invalid html, allowing HTML injection or Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS) attacks.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.hibernate.validator:hibernate-validator"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.2.0.Final"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.hibernate:hibernate-validator"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "6.2.0.Final"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1932"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-1932"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1809444"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/hibernate/hibernate-validator"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-11-07T18:00:00Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-11-07T10:15:04Z"
  }
}