# CVE-2023-4697: Improper Privilege Management in usememos/memos

> Attackers can escalate privileges in the Memos web application due to improper privilege management, requiring an upgrade to the latest version.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 1 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5j6p-59cj-j6cp, GO-2023-2036

## What is CVE-2023-4697?

CVE-2023-4697 is a high-severity vulnerability in Usememos Memos, published on 1 Sep 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper Privilege Management in GitHub repository usememos/memos prior to 0.13.2.

Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-4697?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/usememos/memos. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/usememos/memos` | Go | All versions | 0.13.2 |
| `github.com/usememos/memos` | Go | All versions | 0.13.2 |
| `github.com/usememos/memos` | Go | All versions | 0.13.2 |

Products: Usememos Memos.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-4697?

Upgrade github.com/usememos/memos to 0.13.2 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-4697 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-4697 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Usememos Memos

- [CVE-2025-50738](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-50738/): Memos has Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability in Image URLs (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-22952](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22952/): Memos Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-0109](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0109/): Stored XSS in usememos/memos (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-4696](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4696/): Improper Access Control in usememos/memos (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-4866](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4866/): Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in usememos/memos (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-4697 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-4697 is a high-severity vulnerability in Usememos Memos, published on 1 Sep 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-4697 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/usememos/memos (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 0.13.2
- github.com/usememos/memos (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 0.13.2
- github.com/usememos/memos (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 0.13.2

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-2023-4697/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4697/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-4697
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4697
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-4697

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4697/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.