Is CVE-2023-38506 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2023-38506 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2023-38506 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2023-38506 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-38506?

CVE-2023-38506 has a CVSS score of 5.4 (MEDIUM).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2023-38506

MEDIUM

CVE-2023-38506

CWE-79Published: June 21, 2024· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

5.4

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application. A Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability allows pasting untrusted data into the rich text editor to execute arbitrary code. HTML pasted into the rich text editor is not sanitized (or not sanitized properly). As such, the `onload` attribute of pasted images can execute arbitrary code. Because the TinyMCE editor frame does not use the `sandbox` attribute, such scripts can access NodeJS's `require` through the `top` variable. From this, an attacker can run arbitrary commands. This issue has been addressed in version 2.12.10 and users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2023-38506 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.

From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-79): Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.