Summary
In certain scenarios, Drupal's JSON:API module will output error backtraces. With some configurations, this may cause sensitive information to be cached and made available to anonymous users, leading to privilege escalation.
This vulnerability only affects sites with the JSON:API module enabled, and can be mitigated by uninstalling JSON:API.
The core REST and contributed GraphQL modules are not affected.
Impact
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.
Remediation advice
drupal/core to 9.5.11 or later; drupal/core to 10.0.11 or later; drupal/core to 10.1.4 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-5256? CVE-2023-5256 is a critical-severity security vulnerability in drupal/core (composer), affecting versions >= 8.7.0, < 9.5.11. It is fixed in 9.5.11, 10.0.11, 10.1.4.
- Which versions of drupal/core are affected by CVE-2023-5256? drupal/core (composer) versions >= 8.7.0, < 9.5.11 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-5256? Yes. CVE-2023-5256 is fixed in 9.5.11, 10.0.11, 10.1.4. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2023-5256 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-5256 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-2023-5256 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-2023-5256?
- Upgrade
drupal/coreto 9.5.11 or later - Upgrade
drupal/coreto 10.0.11 or later - Upgrade
drupal/coreto 10.1.4 or later
- Upgrade