What is CVE-2023-38695?

CVE-2023-38695 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot (npm), affecting versions <= 8.0.1. It is fixed in 8.0.2. Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files.

How severe is CVE-2023-38695?

CVE-2023-38695 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 @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot are affected by CVE-2023-38695?

@simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot (npm) versions <= 8.0.1 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2023-38695?

Yes. CVE-2023-38695 is fixed in 8.0.2. Upgrade to this version or later.

Is CVE-2023-38695 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2023-38695 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.

What actually determines whether CVE-2023-38695 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-2023-38695?

Upgrade @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot to 8.0.2 or later.

CVE-2023-38695 in @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot

Q: How severe is CVE-2023-38695?

CVE-2023-38695 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.

Q: Which versions of @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot are affected by CVE-2023-38695?

@simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot (npm) versions <= 8.0.1 is affected.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2023-38695?

Yes. CVE-2023-38695 is fixed in 8.0.2. Upgrade to this version or later.

Q: Is CVE-2023-38695 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2023-38695 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.

Q: What actually determines whether CVE-2023-38695 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.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2023-38695?

Upgrade @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot to 8.0.2 or later.

Summary

@simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshothas fix for insecure snapshot file names

Workarounds

Validate all the existing uses of matchImageSnapshot to ensure correct use of the filename argument. Example:

    // snapshot name will be the test title
    cy.matchImageSnapshot();

    // snapshot name will be the name passed in
    cy.matchImageSnapshot('login');

References

https://github.com/simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot/issues/15

Impact

It's possible for a user to pass a relative file path for the snapshot name and reach outside of the project directory into the machine running the test. Example:

  cy.get('h1').matchImageSnapshot('../../../ignore-relative-dirs')

The above will create an ignore-relative-dirs.png three levels up

Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files. Typical impact: unauthorized file read or write outside the intended directory.

CVE-2023-38695 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 (8.0.2); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Affected versions

@simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot (<= 8.0.1)

Security releases

@simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot → 8.0.2 (npm)

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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Remediation advice

Fixed in 8.0.2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-38695? CVE-2023-38695 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot (npm), affecting versions <= 8.0.1. It is fixed in 8.0.2. Input manipulates file paths to reach files outside the intended directory, such as configuration or credential files.
How severe is CVE-2023-38695? CVE-2023-38695 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 @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot are affected by CVE-2023-38695? @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot (npm) versions <= 8.0.1 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2023-38695? Yes. CVE-2023-38695 is fixed in 8.0.2. Upgrade to this version or later.
Is CVE-2023-38695 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-38695 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-2023-38695 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-2023-38695? Upgrade @simonsmith/cypress-image-snapshot to 8.0.2 or later.