// For flags

CVE-2023-38491

Kirby vulnerable to Cross-site scripting (XSS) from MIME type auto-detection of uploaded files

Severity Score

5.4
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track
*SSVC
Descriptions

Kirby is a content management system. A vulnerability in versions prior to 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and 3.9.6 affects all Kirby sites that might have potential attackers in the group of authenticated Panel users or that allow external visitors to upload an arbitrary file to the content folder. Kirby sites are not affected if they don't allow file uploads for untrusted users or visitors or if the file extensions of uploaded files are limited to a fixed safe list. The attack requires user interaction by another user or visitor and cannot be automated.

An editor with write access to the Kirby Panel could upload a file with an unknown file extension like `.xyz` that contains HTML code including harmful content like `<script>` tags. The direct link to that file could be sent to other users or visitors of the site. If the victim opened that link in a browser where they are logged in to Kirby and the file had not been opened by anyone since the upload, Kirby would not be able to send the correct MIME content type, instead falling back to `text/html`. The browser would then run the script, which could for example trigger requests to Kirby's API with the permissions of the victim.

The issue was caused by the underlying `Kirby\Http\Response::file()` method, which didn't have an explicit fallback if the MIME type could not be determined from the file extension. If you use this method in site or plugin code, these uses may be affected by the same vulnerability.

The problem has been patched in Kirby 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and 3.9.6. In all of the mentioned releases, the maintainers have fixed the affected method to use a fallback MIME type of `text/plain` and set the `X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff` header if the MIME type of the file is unknown.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Partial
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2023-07-18 CVE Reserved
  • 2023-07-27 CVE Published
  • 2024-10-15 CVE Updated
  • 2024-10-31 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Getkirby
Search vendor "Getkirby"
Kirby
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby"
>= 3.5.0 < 3.5.8.3
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby" and version " >= 3.5.0 < 3.5.8.3"
-
Affected
Getkirby
Search vendor "Getkirby"
Kirby
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby"
>= 3.6.0 < 3.6.6.3
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby" and version " >= 3.6.0 < 3.6.6.3"
-
Affected
Getkirby
Search vendor "Getkirby"
Kirby
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby"
>= 3.7.0 < 3.7.5.2
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby" and version " >= 3.7.0 < 3.7.5.2"
-
Affected
Getkirby
Search vendor "Getkirby"
Kirby
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby"
>= 3.8.0 < 3.8.4.1
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby" and version " >= 3.8.0 < 3.8.4.1"
-
Affected
Getkirby
Search vendor "Getkirby"
Kirby
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby"
>= 3.9.0 < 3.9.6
Search vendor "Getkirby" for product "Kirby" and version " >= 3.9.0 < 3.9.6"
-
Affected