# CVE-2023-2479: OS Command Injection in appium/appium-desktop

> An OS command injection vulnerability in Appium Desktop allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the host system.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 May 2023
- **Updated:** 30 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xq6j-x8pq-g3gr

## What is CVE-2023-2479?

CVE-2023-2479 is a critical command injection vulnerability in appium/appium-desktop, published on 2 May 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

OS Command Injection in GitHub repository appium/appium-desktop prior to v1.22.3-4.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2479?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including appium-desktop. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `appium-desktop` | npm | All versions to 1.14.1 | None |
| `appium-desktop` | npm | All versions to 1.14.1 | None |

Products: Appium Appium-Desktop.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-2479?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-2479 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-2479 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-2479 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Appium Desktop Server - Remote Code Execution (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-2479.yaml

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-2479 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-2479 is a critical command injection vulnerability in appium/appium-desktop, published on 2 May 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-2479 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- appium-desktop (npm): affected all versions up to 1.14.1; no fix listed
- appium-desktop (npm): affected all versions up to 1.14.1; 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-2023-2479/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2479/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-2479
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2479
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-2479

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2479/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.