# CVE-2023-45158: Command injection in web2py

> Attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on web2py servers if notifySendHandler logging is enabled, requiring an upgrade to mitigate.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 18 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vx79-v9rq-vjp5, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-45158

## What is CVE-2023-45158?

CVE-2023-45158 is a critical command injection vulnerability in web2py, published on 16 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An OS command injection vulnerability exists in web2py 2.24.1 and earlier. When the product is configured to use notifySendHandler for logging (not the default configuration), a crafted web request may execute an arbitrary OS command on the web server using the product.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-45158?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Web2py Web2py.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-45158?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-45158 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-45158 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-45158 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/yifanzhg/CVE-2023-45158 (github_poc): https://github.com/yifanzhg/CVE-2023-45158

## Other vulnerabilities in web2py

- [CVE-2016-3953](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3953/): web2py remote code execution via hardcoded encryption key in session.connect function (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-3957](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3957/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-10321](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10321/): web2py is vulnerable to password brute-force attack (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-4808](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4808/): Web2py Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-3952](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3952/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-45158 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-45158 is a critical command injection vulnerability in web2py, published on 16 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-45158 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: web2py. 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-2023-45158/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45158/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-45158
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45158
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-45158

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45158/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.