# CVE-2023-38646: Command injection in n/a

> Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the server via Metabase, leading to full system compromise.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 21 Jul 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jg32-8h6w-x7vg

## What is CVE-2023-38646?

CVE-2023-38646 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 21 Jul 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Metabase open source before 0.46.6.1 and Metabase Enterprise before 1.46.6.1 allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server, at the server's privilege level. Authentication is not required for exploitation. The other fixed versions are 0.45.4.1, 1.45.4.1, 0.44.7.1, 1.44.7.1, 0.43.7.2, and 1.43.7.2.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38646?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Metabase Metabase.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38646?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38646 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-38646 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-38646 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2023-38646 Metabase RCE (github_poc): https://github.com/Boogipop/MetabaseRceTools
- Automatic Tools For Metabase Exploit Known As CVE-2023-38646 (github_poc): https://github.com/robotmikhro/CVE-2023-38646
- POC for CVE-2023-38646 (github_poc): https://github.com/securezeron/CVE-2023-38646
- Metabase Pre-auth RCE (CVE-2023-38646)!! (github_poc): https://github.com/0xrobiul/CVE-2023-38646
- Metabase Pre-auth RCE (github_poc): https://github.com/shamo0/CVE-2023-38646-PoC
- Metabase Pre-auth RCE (CVE-2023-38646) (github_poc): https://github.com/kh4sh3i/CVE-2023-38646

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2026-72898](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-72898/): Metabase SQL Injection (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-41277](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41277/): Metabase GeoJSON API Local File Inclusion (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-50148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-50148/): Metabase: Remote Code Execution via Snowflake JDBC Driver Arbitrary File Write (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-37470](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37470/): Metabase vulnerable to remote code execution via POST /api/setup/validate API endpoint (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-59827](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-59827/): Metabase: Unsafe Deserialization of H2 Query Results (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-38646 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38646 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 21 Jul 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-2023-38646 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2023-38646/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38646/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38646
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38646
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38646

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38646/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.