# CVE-2018-16980: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Cross-site scripting in dotCMS allows attackers to inject malicious scripts via image tool parameters, potentially leading to session hijacking or code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Sep 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2018-16980, GHSA-m6v3-5wc4-h23c

## What is CVE-2018-16980?

CVE-2018-16980 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Dotcms Dotcms, published on 12 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

dotCMS V5.0.1 has XSS in the /html/portlet/ext/contentlet/image_tools/index.jsp fieldName and inode parameters.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-16980?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Dotcms Dotcms.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-16980?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-16980 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16980 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Dotcms Dotcms

- [CVE-2022-26352](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26352/): dotCMS Unrestricted Upload of File (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-19138](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-19138/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-6754](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6754/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-5344](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5344/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-2355](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2355/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-16980 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-16980 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Dotcms Dotcms, published on 12 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16980 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dotcms Dotcms. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16980/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16980/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16980
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16980
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-16980

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16980/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.