# CVE-2023-6013: H2O Local File Include

> Attackers can exploit stored XSS in H2O to trigger Local File Include, potentially executing code or reading sensitive files.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 27 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3g44-f63g-r9p7

## What is CVE-2023-6013?

CVE-2023-6013 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in h2oai/h2o-3, published on 16 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

H2O is vulnerable to stored XSS vulnerability which can lead to a Local File Include attack.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6013?

It affects 1 product.


Products: H2o H2o.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6013?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6013 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6013 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-6013 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in h2oai/h2o-3

- [CVE-2023-6016](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6016/): H2O Remote Code Execution via POJO Model Import (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2025-6544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-6544/): Deserialization Vulnerability in h2oai/h2o-3 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-10553](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-10553/): Jdbc Deserialization in h2oai/h2o-3 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-6569](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6569/): External Control of File Name or Path in h2oai/h2o-3 (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2023-6038](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6038/): Local File Inclusion in h2oai/h2o-3 (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6013 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6013 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in h2oai/h2o-3, published on 16 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-6013 exists.

Affected product: h2oai/h2o-3. 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-2023-6013/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6013/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6013
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6013
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6013

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6013/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.