# CVE-2023-43876: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> An attacker can execute arbitrary web scripts via a crafted payload in the dbhost field during October CMS installation.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 23 Sep 2024

## What is CVE-2023-43876?

CVE-2023-43876 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 28 Sep 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in installation of October v.3.4.16 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary web scripts via a crafted payload injected into the dbhost field.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-43876?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Octobercms October.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-43876?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-43876 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-43876 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-43876 exists.

Public exploit code:

- October CMS 3.4.16 is affected by a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted payload in the installation process. (github_poc): https://github.com/sromanhu/CVE-2023-43876-October-CMS-Reflected-XSS---Installation

## Other vulnerabilities in Octobercms October

- [CVE-2021-32648](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32648/): October CMS Improper Authentication (high 8.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-3311](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3311/): October CMS Session ID not invalidated after logout (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000194](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000194/): October CMS File Upload Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000196/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000197](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000197/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-43876 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-43876 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Octobercms October, published on 28 Sep 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-43876 exists.

Affected product: Octobercms October. 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-2023-43876/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43876/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-43876
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-43876
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-43876

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43876/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.