# CVE-2020-15930: Cross-site Scripting in Joplin

> An XSS vulnerability in Joplin desktop allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via malicious HTML embed tags.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 24 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cgc7-mwp4-3ccx

## What is CVE-2020-15930?

CVE-2020-15930 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 24 Sep 2020. 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

An XSS issue in Joplin desktop 1.0.190 to 1.0.245 allows arbitrary code execution via a malicious HTML embed tag.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-15930?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including joplin. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `joplin` | npm | From 1.0.190 | 1.1.7 |
| `joplin` | npm | From 1.0.190 | 1.1.7 |

Products: Joplin Project Joplin.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-15930?

Upgrade joplin to 1.1.7 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-15930 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-15930 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Joplin 1.0.245 - Arbitrary Code Execution (PoC) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2022-23340](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23340/): Joplin Vulnerable to Code Injection (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-40643](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40643/): Joplin has a parsing error leading to Cross-site Scripting (XSS) (critical 9.7)
- [CVE-2023-45673](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45673/): Arbitrary code execution on click of PDF links in Joplin (high 8.9)
- [CVE-2025-27134](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27134/): Privilege escalation in Joplin server via user patch endpoint (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-37898](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37898/): Safe mode Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Joplin (high 8.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-15930 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-15930 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 24 Sep 2020. 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-2020-15930 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- joplin (npm): affected from 1.0.190; fixed in 1.1.7
- joplin (npm): affected from 1.0.190; fixed in 1.1.7

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-2020-15930/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15930/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-15930
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15930
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-15930

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15930/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.