Summary
wallabag contains Improper Authorization via export feature
Description
The export feature lets a user export a single entry or a set of entries in a given format (e.g. PDF, MOBI, TXT).
For example, https://yourinstance.wallabag.org/export/45.pdf will export the entry with id 45 in PDF format.
Since wallabag 2.0.0-alpha.1, this feature is vulnerable to an insecure direct object reference attack. A logged user can export any single entry without ownership validation.
This is due to a lack of access validation in the downloadEntryAction method.
You should immediately patch your instance to version 2.5.3 or higher if you have more than one user and/or having open registration.
Resolution
A user check is now done in the vulnerable method before sending the exported entry.
The Entry retrieval through a ParamConverter has also been replaced with a call to the EntryRepository in order to prevent any information disclosure through response discrepancy.
Workaround
If you are unable to update to the latest version or if you want to temporarily limit risk of exploitation, you may consider blocking requests to the endpoint /export/*.
E.g. with nginx:
location /export {
deny all;
}
Credits
We would like to thank @bAuh0lz for reporting this issue through huntr.dev.
Reference: https://www.huntr.dev/bounties/3adef66f-fc86-4e6d-a540-2ffa59342ff0/
Impact
CVE-2023-0609 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (2.5.3); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-0609? CVE-2023-0609 is a medium-severity security vulnerability in wallabag/wallabag (composer), affecting versions >= 2.0.0-alpha.1, < 2.5.3. It is fixed in 2.5.3.
- How severe is CVE-2023-0609? CVE-2023-0609 has a CVSS score of 6.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of wallabag/wallabag are affected by CVE-2023-0609? wallabag/wallabag (composer) versions >= 2.0.0-alpha.1, < 2.5.3 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-0609? Yes. CVE-2023-0609 is fixed in 2.5.3. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2023-0609 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-0609 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2023-0609 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2023-0609? Upgrade
wallabag/wallabagto 2.5.3 or later.