# CVE-2023-38702: Knowage Server vulnerable to path traversal via upload functionality

> Authenticated users can upload malicious JSP files to gain remote code execution on the Knowage server due to missing authorization checks.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 8 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7mjh-73q3-c3fc

## What is CVE-2023-38702?

CVE-2023-38702 is a critical vulnerability in KnowageLabs Knowage-Server, published on 4 Aug 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Knowage is an open source analytics and business intelligence suite. Starting in the 6.x.x branch and prior to version 8.1.8, the endpoint `/knowage/restful-services/dossier/importTemplateFile` allows authenticated users to upload `template file` on the server, but does not need any authorization to be reached. When the JSP file is uploaded, the attacker just needs to connect to `/knowageqbeengine/foo.jsp` to gain code execution on the server. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker with low privileges can upload a JSP file to the `knowageqbeengine` directory and gain code execution capability on the server. This issue has been patched in Knowage version 8.1.8.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38702?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Eng Knowage.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38702?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38702 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-38702 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-38702 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in KnowageLabs Knowage-Server

- [CVE-2019-13188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13188/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-59954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-59954/): Knowage Contains a Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2021-30055](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30055/): SQL injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-13348](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13348/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-37472](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37472/): Query injection in Knowage server (high 7.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-38702 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38702 is a critical vulnerability in KnowageLabs Knowage-Server, published on 4 Aug 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-38702 exists.

Affected product: KnowageLabs Knowage-Server. 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-2023-38702/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38702/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38702
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38702
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38702

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38702/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.