# CVE-2023-6452: Cross-site scripting in Web Security

> Stored XSS in Forcepoint Web Security Transaction Viewer allows attackers to execute JavaScript in admin browsers, enabling unauthorized actions.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** 22 Aug 2024
- **Updated:** 22 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-85fc-rr25-p568

## What is CVE-2023-6452?

CVE-2023-6452 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in Forcepoint Web Security, published on 22 Aug 2024. 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

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Forcepoint Web Security (Transaction Viewer) allows Stored XSS.

The
 Forcepoint Web Security portal allows administrators to generate 
detailed reports on user requests made through the Web proxy. It has 
been determined that the "user agent" field in the Transaction Viewer is
 vulnerable to a persistent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, 
which can be exploited by any user who can route traffic through the 
Forcepoint Web proxy.

This 
vulnerability enables unauthorized attackers to execute JavaScript 
within the browser context of a Forcepoint administrator, thereby 
allowing them to perform actions on the administrator's behalf. Such a 
breach could lead to unauthorized access or modifications, posing a 
significant security risk.

This issue affects Web Security: before 8.5.6.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6452?


## How do I fix CVE-2023-6452?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6452 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6452 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6452 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6452 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6452 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in Forcepoint Web Security, published on 22 Aug 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6452 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Forcepoint Web Security. 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-2023-6452/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6452/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6452
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6452
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6452

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6452/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.