# CVE-2023-4451: Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Reflected in cockpit-hq/cockpit

> Reflected Cross-Site Scripting in Cockpit CMS allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in victim browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking or data theft.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g3mv-64h3-h482

## What is CVE-2023-4451?

CVE-2023-4451 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in cockpit-hq/cockpit, published on 20 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Reflected in GitHub repository cockpit-hq/cockpit prior to 2.6.4.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-4451?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including cockpit-hq/cockpit. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `cockpit-hq/cockpit` | Packagist | All versions to 2.6.3 | None |
| `cockpit-hq/cockpit` | Packagist | All versions to 2.6.3 | None |

Products: Agentejo Cockpit.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-4451?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-4451 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-4451 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-4451 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Cockpit - Cross-Site Scripting (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-4451.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in cockpit-hq/cockpit

- [CVE-2023-4195](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4195/): PHP Remote File Inclusion in cockpit-hq/cockpit (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2024-4825](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4825/): Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability on Cockpit CMS from Agentejo (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-2818](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2818/): Improper Removal of Sensitive Information Before Storage or Transfer in cockpit-hq/cockpit (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-35131](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35131/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-35846](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35846/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-4451 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-4451 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in cockpit-hq/cockpit, published on 20 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, 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-2023-4451 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- cockpit-hq/cockpit (Packagist): affected all versions up to 2.6.3; no fix listed
- cockpit-hq/cockpit (Packagist): affected all versions up to 2.6.3; no fix listed

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-2023-4451/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4451/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-4451
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4451
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-4451

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4451/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.