# CVE-2023-40171: Dispatch writes JWT tokens in error message

> Attackers can obtain the JWT secret from error messages to forge tokens and take over accounts in Dispatch instances using the Basic Authentication plugin.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 7 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fv3x-67q3-6pg7

## What is CVE-2023-40171?

CVE-2023-40171 is a critical vulnerability in Netflix dispatch, published on 17 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Dispatch is an open source security incident management tool. The server response includes the JWT Secret Key used for signing JWT tokens in error message when the `Dispatch Plugin - Basic Authentication Provider` plugin encounters an error when attempting to decode a JWT token. Any Dispatch users who own their instance and rely on the `Dispatch Plugin - Basic Authentication Provider` plugin for authentication may be impacted, allowing for any account to be taken over within their own instance. This could be done by using the secret to sign attacker crafted JWTs. If you think that you may be impacted, we strongly suggest you to rotate the secret stored in the `DISPATCH_JWT_SECRET` envvar in the `.env` file. This issue has been addressed in commit `b1942a4319` which has been included in the `20230817` release. users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-209 (Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-40171?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Netflix Dispatch.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-40171?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-40171 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-40171 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-40171 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Netflix dispatch

- [CVE-2020-9300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9300/): Missing authorization in Netflix Dispatch (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2020-9299](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9299/): Cross-site scripting in Netflix Dispatch (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-40171 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-40171 is a critical vulnerability in Netflix dispatch, published on 17 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-2023-40171 exists.

Affected product: Netflix dispatch. 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-2023-40171/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40171/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40171
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40171
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-40171

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40171/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.