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FKIE_CVE-2023-28439

Vulnerability from fkie_nvd - Published: 2023-03-22 21:15 - Updated: 2026-06-17 05:47
Severity
4.7 (Medium) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
6.1 (Medium) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Summary
CKEditor4 is an open source what-you-see-is-what-you-get HTML editor. A cross-site scripting vulnerability has been discovered affecting Iframe Dialog and Media Embed packages. The vulnerability may trigger a JavaScript code after fulfilling special conditions: using one of the affected packages on a web page with missing proper Content Security Policy configuration; initializing the editor on an element and using an element other than `<textarea>` as a base; and destroying the editor instance. This vulnerability might affect a small percentage of integrators that depend on dynamic editor initialization/destroy mechanism. A fix is available in CKEditor4 version 4.21.0. In some rare cases, a security fix may be considered a breaking change. Starting from version 4.21.0, the Iframe Dialog plugin applies the `sandbox` attribute by default, which restricts JavaScript code execution in the iframe element. To change this behavior, configure the `config.iframe_attributes` option. Also starting from version 4.21.0, the Media Embed plugin regenerates the entire content of the embed widget by default. To change this behavior, configure the `config.embed_keepOriginalContent` option. Those who choose to enable either of the more permissive options or who cannot upgrade to a patched version should properly configure Content Security Policy to avoid any potential security issues that may arise from embedding iframe elements on their web page.
References
security-advisories@github.comhttps://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/embedProduct
security-advisories@github.comhttps://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/iframeProduct
security-advisories@github.comhttps://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor4/security/advisories/GHSA-vh5c-xwqv-cv9gVendor Advisory
security-advisories@github.comhttps://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GWKG2VCPJNETVCDTXU4X6FQ2PO6XCNGN/Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
security-advisories@github.comhttps://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/L4ODGOW6PYVOXHQSMWJBOCE6DXWAI33W/Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
security-advisories@github.comhttps://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VCYKD3JZWWA3ESOZG4PHJJEXT4EYIUIQ/Mailing List
af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/embedProduct
af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/iframeProduct
af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor4/security/advisories/GHSA-vh5c-xwqv-cv9gVendor Advisory
af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GWKG2VCPJNETVCDTXU4X6FQ2PO6XCNGN/Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/L4ODGOW6PYVOXHQSMWJBOCE6DXWAI33W/Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VCYKD3JZWWA3ESOZG4PHJJEXT4EYIUIQ/Mailing List
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
ckeditor ckeditor *
fedoraproject fedora 37
fedoraproject fedora 38
fedoraproject fedora 39
To clipboard 

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "product": "ckeditor4",
          "vendor": "ckeditor",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 4.21.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    }
  ],
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:ckeditor:ckeditor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "matchCriteriaId": "0DFC29A5-004B-4815-AF02-37517672D3F1",
              "versionEndExcluding": "4.21.0",
              "versionStartIncluding": "4.0",
              "vulnerable": true
            }
          ],
          "negate": false,
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "matchCriteriaId": "E30D0E6F-4AE8-4284-8716-991DFA48CC5D",
              "vulnerable": true
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "matchCriteriaId": "CC559B26-5DFC-4B7A-A27C-B77DE755DFF9",
              "vulnerable": true
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "matchCriteriaId": "B8EDB836-4E6A-4B71-B9B2-AA3E03E0F646",
              "vulnerable": true
            }
          ],
          "negate": false,
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "cveTags": [],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "CKEditor4 is an open source what-you-see-is-what-you-get HTML editor. A cross-site scripting vulnerability has been discovered affecting Iframe Dialog and Media Embed packages. The vulnerability may trigger a JavaScript code after fulfilling special conditions: using one of the affected packages on a web page with missing proper Content Security Policy configuration; initializing the editor on an element and using an element other than `\u003ctextarea\u003e` as a base; and destroying the editor instance. This vulnerability might affect a small percentage of integrators that depend on dynamic editor initialization/destroy mechanism.\n\nA fix is available in CKEditor4 version 4.21.0. In some rare cases, a security fix may be considered a breaking change. Starting from version 4.21.0, the Iframe Dialog plugin applies the `sandbox` attribute by default, which restricts JavaScript code execution in the iframe element. To change this behavior, configure the `config.iframe_attributes` option. Also starting from version 4.21.0, the Media Embed plugin regenerates the entire content of the embed widget by default. To change this behavior, configure the `config.embed_keepOriginalContent` option. Those who choose to enable either of the more permissive options or who cannot upgrade to a patched version should properly configure Content Security Policy to avoid any potential security issues that may arise from embedding iframe elements on their web page."
    }
  ],
  "id": "CVE-2023-28439",
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T05:47:44.453",
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "cvssData": {
          "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "baseScore": 4.7,
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "confidentialityImpact": "LOW",
          "integrityImpact": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "scope": "CHANGED",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N",
          "version": "3.1"
        },
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.6,
        "impactScore": 2.7,
        "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
        "type": "Secondary"
      },
      {
        "cvssData": {
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "baseScore": 6.1,
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "confidentialityImpact": "LOW",
          "integrityImpact": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "scope": "CHANGED",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N",
          "version": "3.1"
        },
        "exploitabilityScore": 2.8,
        "impactScore": 2.7,
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "type": "Primary"
      }
    ],
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2023-28439",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "partial"
            }
          ],
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "timestamp": "2024-10-15T17:09:11.109854Z",
          "version": "2.0.3"
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "published": "2023-03-22T21:15:18.607",
  "references": [
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "tags": [
        "Product"
      ],
      "url": "https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/embed"
    },
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "tags": [
        "Product"
      ],
      "url": "https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/iframe"
    },
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "url": "https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor4/security/advisories/GHSA-vh5c-xwqv-cv9g"
    },
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GWKG2VCPJNETVCDTXU4X6FQ2PO6XCNGN/"
    },
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/L4ODGOW6PYVOXHQSMWJBOCE6DXWAI33W/"
    },
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List"
      ],
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VCYKD3JZWWA3ESOZG4PHJJEXT4EYIUIQ/"
    },
    {
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
      "tags": [
        "Product"
      ],
      "url": "https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/embed"
    },
    {
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
      "tags": [
        "Product"
      ],
      "url": "https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/iframe"
    },
    {
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "url": "https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor4/security/advisories/GHSA-vh5c-xwqv-cv9g"
    },
    {
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GWKG2VCPJNETVCDTXU4X6FQ2PO6XCNGN/"
    },
    {
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/L4ODGOW6PYVOXHQSMWJBOCE6DXWAI33W/"
    },
    {
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List"
      ],
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VCYKD3JZWWA3ESOZG4PHJJEXT4EYIUIQ/"
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com",
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-79"
        }
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "type": "Secondary"
    },
    {
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-79"
        }
      ],
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "type": "Primary"
    }
  ]
}



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Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.


Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.