# CVE-2023-53957: Kimai 1.30.10 SameSite Cookie Vulnerability Session Hijacking

> Attackers can hijack user sessions in Kimai by exploiting missing SameSite cookie protections, allowing unauthorized access to victim accounts.

- **Severity:** High 8.5 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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:** 19 Dec 2025
- **Updated:** 8 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cv8h-r7r5-vwj9

## What is CVE-2023-53957?

CVE-2023-53957 is a high-severity vulnerability in Kimai, published on 19 Dec 2025. 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

Kimai 1.30.10 contains a SameSite cookie vulnerability that allows attackers to steal user session cookies through malicious exploitation. Attackers can trick victims into executing a crafted PHP script that captures and writes session cookie information to a file, enabling potential session hijacking.

Weakness: CWE-1275 (Sensitive Cookie with Improper SameSite Attribute)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53957?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `kimai/kimai` | Packagist | All versions to 1.30.10 | None |
| `kimai/kimai` | Packagist | All versions to 1.30.10 | None |

Products: Kimai Kimai.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-53957?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-53957 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-53957 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-53957 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Kimai

- [CVE-2020-19825](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-19825/): Cross-site Scripting in kimai/kimai (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2021-43515](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43515/): Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File in Kimai 2 (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-46245](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-46245/): Kimai (Authenticated) SSTI to RCE by Uploading a Malicious Twig File (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2026-23626](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23626/): Kimai Vulnerable to Authenticated Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2024-29200](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29200/): API returns timesheet entries a user should not be authorized to view (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-53957 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-53957 is a high-severity vulnerability in Kimai, published on 19 Dec 2025. 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-2023-53957 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- kimai/kimai (Packagist): affected all versions up to 1.30.10; no fix listed
- kimai/kimai (Packagist): affected all versions up to 1.30.10; 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-2023-53957/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53957/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-53957
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53957
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-53957

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53957/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.