# CVE-2023-6853: kalcaddle KodExplorer app.php index server-side request forgery

> Remote attackers can exploit a server-side request forgery vulnerability in KodExplorer to access internal resources or bypass security controls.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Dec 2023
- **Updated:** 7 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wh33-v2x8-3h4r

## What is CVE-2023-6853?

CVE-2023-6853 is a medium-severity server-side request forgery vulnerability in kalcaddle KodExplorer, published on 16 Dec 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in kalcaddle KodExplorer up to 4.51.03. Affected by this vulnerability is the function index of the file plugins/officeLive/app.php. The manipulation of the argument path leads to server-side request forgery. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 4.52.01 is able to address this issue. The identifier of the patch is 5cf233f7556b442100cf67b5e92d57ceabb126c6. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier VDB-248221 was assigned to this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-918 (Server-Side Request Forgery)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6853?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Kodcloud Kodexplorer.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6853?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6853 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-6853 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-6853 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in kalcaddle KodExplorer

- [CVE-2022-46154](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-46154/): Arbitrary file access in KodExplorer (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2023-6850](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6850/): kalcaddle KodExplorer API Endpoint unrestricted upload (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2023-6851](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6851/): kalcaddle KodExplorer ZIP Archive app.php unzipList code injection (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2023-6852](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6852/): kalcaddle KodExplorer app.php server-side request forgery (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2023-49489](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49489/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6853 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6853 is a medium-severity server-side request forgery vulnerability in kalcaddle KodExplorer, published on 16 Dec 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-2023-6853 exists.

Affected product: kalcaddle KodExplorer. 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-2023-6853/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6853/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6853
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6853
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6853

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6853/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.