# CVE-2023-45885: NASA Open MCT Cross Site Scripting vulnerability

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via the flexibleLayout plugin in NASA Open MCT, potentially compromising user sessions.

- **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:** 9 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 4 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v8fc-qxvj-f3mg

## What is CVE-2023-45885?

CVE-2023-45885 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 Nov 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

Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in NASA Open MCT (aka openmct) through 3.1.0 allows attackers to run arbitrary code via the new component feature in the flexibleLayout plugin.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-45885?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including openmct. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openmct` | npm | All versions to 3.1.0 | None |
| `openmct` | npm | All versions to 3.1.0 | None |

Products: Nasa Openmct.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-45885?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-45885 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-45885 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-45885 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-45282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45282/): Prototype Pollution in NASA Open MCT (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-45884](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45884/): NASA Open MCT Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2022-22126](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22126/): Openmct XSS via the “Web Page” element (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2022-23053](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23053/): Openmct XSS via the “Condition Widget” (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2022-23054](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-23054/): Openmct XSS via the “Summary Widget” (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-45885 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-45885 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 Nov 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-2023-45885 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openmct (npm): affected all versions up to 3.1.0; no fix listed
- openmct (npm): affected all versions up to 3.1.0; 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-2023-45885/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45885/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-45885
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45885
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-45885

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45885/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.