# CVE-2023-38976: Weaviate denial of service vulnerability

> A remote attacker can cause a denial of service in Weaviate via the handleUnbatchedGraphQLRequest function.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 7 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8697-479h-5mfp, GO-2023-2017

## What is CVE-2023-38976?

CVE-2023-38976 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in n/a, published on 21 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue in weaviate v.1.20.0 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the handleUnbatchedGraphQLRequest function.

Weakness: CWE-617 (Reachable Assertion)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38976?

7 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/weaviate/weaviate. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/weaviate/weaviate` | Go | All versions | 1.18.6, 1.19.13, 1.20.6 |
| `github.com/weaviate/weaviate` | Go | All versions | 1.18.6 |
| `github.com/weaviate/weaviate` | Go | All versions | 1.18.6 |
| `github.com/weaviate/weaviate` | Go | From 1.19.0 | 1.19.13 |
| `github.com/weaviate/weaviate` | Go | From 1.19.0 | 1.19.13 |
| `github.com/weaviate/weaviate` | Go | From 1.20.0 | 1.20.6 |
| `github.com/weaviate/weaviate` | Go | From 1.20.0 | 1.20.6 |

Products: Weaviate Weaviate.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38976?

Upgrade github.com/weaviate/weaviate to a fixed version for your release line: 1.18.6, 1.19.13 or 1.20.6.

## Is CVE-2023-38976 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-38976 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2026-59093](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-59093/): Weaviate < 1.38.0 - Privilege Escalation via Unchecked Permissions in RBAC Role Assignment (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2025-67818](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-67818/): Weaviate OSS has a Path Traversal Vulnerability via Backup ZipSlip (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2025-67819](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-67819/): Weaviate OSS has path traversal vulnerability via the Shard Movement API (medium 4.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-38976 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38976 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in n/a, published on 21 Aug 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-2023-38976 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/weaviate/weaviate (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.18.6, 1.19.13, 1.20.6
- github.com/weaviate/weaviate (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.18.6
- github.com/weaviate/weaviate (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.18.6
- github.com/weaviate/weaviate (Go): affected from 1.19.0; fixed in 1.19.13
- github.com/weaviate/weaviate (Go): affected from 1.19.0; fixed in 1.19.13
- github.com/weaviate/weaviate (Go): affected from 1.20.0; fixed in 1.20.6
- github.com/weaviate/weaviate (Go): affected from 1.20.0; fixed in 1.20.6

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-2023-38976/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38976/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38976
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38976
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38976

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38976/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.