# CVE-2022-40277: Joplin Remote Code Execution

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on Joplin clients by tricking users into opening malicious markdown files with unsafe links.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Sep 2022
- **Updated:** 20 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mjr5-v9c9-mm7g

## What is CVE-2022-40277?

CVE-2022-40277 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Joplin, published on 30 Sep 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Joplin version 2.8.8 allows an external attacker to execute arbitrary commands remotely on any client that opens a link in a malicious markdown file, via Joplin. This is possible because the application does not properly validate the schema/protocol of existing links in the markdown file before passing them to the 'shell.openExternal' function.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-40277?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `joplin` | npm | All versions to 2.8.8 | None |
| `joplin` | npm | All versions to 2.8.8 | None |

Products: Joplinapp Joplin.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-40277?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-40277 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-40277 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-40277 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Joplin

- [CVE-2022-35131](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-35131/): Joplin is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2026-22810](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-22810/): Joplin: Path traversal in OneNote importer allows overwriting arbitrary files (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2021-23431](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23431/): Cross-site Request Forgery (CSRF) (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-40277 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-40277 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Joplin, published on 30 Sep 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-40277 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- joplin (npm): affected all versions up to 2.8.8; no fix listed
- joplin (npm): affected all versions up to 2.8.8; no fix listed

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-2022-40277/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40277/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-40277
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-40277
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-40277

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40277/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.