Summary
GeoServer's Style Publisher vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists that enables an authenticated administrator with workspace-level privileges to store a JavaScript payload in uploaded style/legend resources or in a specially crafted datastore file that will execute in the context of another user's browser when viewed in the Style Publisher. Access to the Style Publisher is available to all users although data security may limit users' ability to trigger the XSS.
Details
Give all details on the vulnerability. Pointing to the incriminated source code is very helpful for the maintainer.
PoC
Complete instructions, including specific configuration details, to reproduce the vulnerability.
References
https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11149
https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/7162
https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11155
https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/7181
Impact
If an attacker can control a script that is executed in the victim's browser, then they can typically fully compromise that user. Amongst other things, the attacker can:
1 .Perform any action within the application that the user can perform.
2. View any information that the user is able to view.
3. Modify any information that the user is able to modify.
4. Initiate interactions with other application users, including malicious attacks, that will appear to originate from the initial victim user.
Untrusted input is rendered as active markup in a victim's browser, which can run script in their session. Typical impact: session or credential theft, and actions taken as the user.
CVE-2024-23640 has a CVSS score of 4.8 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, high privileges required, and user interaction required. 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 (2.23.3); 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.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
org.geoserver:gs-main to 2.23.3 or later; org.geoserver:gs-ows to 2.23.3 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2024-23640? CVE-2024-23640 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in org.geoserver:gs-main (maven), affecting versions < 2.23.3. It is fixed in 2.23.3. Untrusted input is rendered as active markup in a victim's browser, which can run script in their session.
- How severe is CVE-2024-23640? CVE-2024-23640 has a CVSS score of 4.8 (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 packages are affected by CVE-2024-23640?
org.geoserver:gs-main(maven) (versions < 2.23.3)org.geoserver:gs-ows(maven) (versions < 2.23.3)
- Is there a fix for CVE-2024-23640? Yes. CVE-2024-23640 is fixed in 2.23.3. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2024-23640 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2024-23640 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-2024-23640 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-2024-23640?
- Upgrade
org.geoserver:gs-mainto 2.23.3 or later - Upgrade
org.geoserver:gs-owsto 2.23.3 or later
- Upgrade