# CVE-2020-9038: Cross-site Scripting in Joplin

> Attackers can exploit XSS in Joplin to perform arbitrary file reads, potentially exposing sensitive user data.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Feb 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6r7x-hc8m-985r

## What is CVE-2020-9038?

CVE-2020-9038 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Feb 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Joplin through 1.0.184 allows Arbitrary File Read via XSS.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-9038?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `joplin` | npm | All versions | 1.2.1 |
| `joplin` | npm | All versions | 1.2.1 |

Products: Joplin Project Joplin.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-9038?

Upgrade joplin to 1.2.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2020-9038 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Disclosure report of CVE-2020-9038 (github_poc): https://github.com/JavierOlmedo/CVE-2020-9038
- Joplin Desktop 1.0.184 - Cross-Site Scripting (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-2020-9038 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-9038 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 17 Feb 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- joplin (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 1.2.1
- joplin (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 1.2.1

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-2020-9038/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9038/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9038
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9038
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-9038

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9038/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.