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🛡️ CVE-2023-40024 — scancode.io

🟡 CVSS 5.4 — Medium ⚠️ Exploit Public CWE-79 NVD
5.4
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

Scancode.io Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in license endpoint

Summary

In the /license/ endpoint, the detailed view key is not properly validated and sanitized, which can result in a potential cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability when attempting to access a detailed license view that does not exist.

Details

In the /license/ endpoint, the license_details_view function is vulnerable to a potential cross-site scripting (XSS) attack due to inadequate validation and sanitization of the key parameter. This vulnerability arises when attempting to access a key with malicious javascript.

```python

def license_details_view(request, key):

"""

Display all available information about a given license key followed by

the full license text.

"""

licenses = get_licenses()

try:

data = saneyaml.dump(licenses[key].to_dict())

text = licenses[key].text

except KeyError:

return HttpResponseNotFound(f"License {key} not found.") # Leads to cross-site scripting when key is malicious javascript

return HttpResponse(f"<pre>{data}</pre><hr><pre>{text}</pre>")

```

PoC

1. Access following endpoint on scancode.io instance: http://localhost/license/%3Cscript%3Ealert(document.cookie);%3C/script%3E/

Impact

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability to inject malicious scripts into the response generated by the license_details_view function. When unsuspecting users visit the page, their browsers will execute the injected scripts, leading to unauthorized actions, session hijacking, or stealing sensitive information.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. A user must be tricked into taking some action. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality low, integrity low, availability none.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

  • Attack vector: Network — reachable from anywhere that can route to the service.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: None — an unauthenticated stranger can try it.
  • User interaction: Required — someone has to click, open or visit something.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
  • Integrity impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
  • Availability impact: None.

Weakness class

CVE-2023-40024 is classified as CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting (XSS). User-supplied data is written into a page without escaping, so attacker script runs in the browser of anyone who views it.

Affected software

CVE-2023-40024 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • scancode.io (fixed in 32.5.1)
  • scancodeio (fixed in 32.5.2)

Timeline and source

Published on 14 August 2023 and last revised on 17 June 2026. A public exploit is known to exist, which raises the urgency of patching considerably. Record sourced from NVD.

References

github.com
github.com
github.com
github.com

Other advisories for this package

scancode.io has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting (XSS)) in other software:

Details

Severity MEDIUM
CVSS Score 5.4
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
CWE CWE-79
Public Exploit ⚠️ Yes
Source NVD
Published 2023-08-14
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-06-17
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
scancode.io — 32.5.1
scancodeio — 32.5.2

Similar Threats

Exploit Protection

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CVE-2023-40024 carries CVSS 5.4 Medium rating and a public exploit already exists. BotEraser checks your installation against this and other known CVE records, and blocks IPs associated with exploit activity.

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