# CVE-2022-43984: Browsershot 3.57.3 - Server Side XSS to LFR via HTML

> An attacker can read arbitrary local files by injecting file:// URLs into HTML content processed by the Browsershot library.

- **Severity:** High 8.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/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:** 25 Nov 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Dec 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6q49-35h6-rq2p

## What is CVE-2022-43984?

CVE-2022-43984 is a high-severity server-side request forgery vulnerability in Browsershot, published on 25 Nov 2022. 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

Browsershot version 3.57.3 allows an external attacker to remotely obtain arbitrary local files. This is possible because the application does not validate that the JS content imported from an external source passed to the Browsershot::html method does not contain URLs that use the file:// protocol.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-43984?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including spatie/browsershot. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `spatie/browsershot` | Packagist | All versions | 3.57.4 |
| `spatie/browsershot` | Packagist | All versions | 3.57.4 |

Products: Spatie Browsershot.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-43984?

Upgrade spatie/browsershot to 3.57.4 or later.

## Is CVE-2022-43984 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-43984 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Browsershot

- [CVE-2022-41706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-41706/): Browsershot 3.57.2 - Server Side XSS to LFR via URL (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2022-43983](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43983/): Browsershot 3.57.2 - Server Side XSS to LFR via HTML (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2020-7790](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7790/): Arbitrary File Read (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-43984 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-43984 is a high-severity server-side request forgery vulnerability in Browsershot, published on 25 Nov 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-43984 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- spatie/browsershot (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 3.57.4
- spatie/browsershot (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 3.57.4

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-2022-43984/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43984/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-43984
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-43984
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-43984

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43984/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.