# CVE-2023-7038: automad User Creation cross-site request forgery

> Attackers can force authenticated users to create new accounts via cross-site request forgery in automad.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A: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:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Dec 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4j8w-p6hv-3qxc

## What is CVE-2023-7038?

CVE-2023-7038 is a medium-severity vulnerability in automad, published on 21 Dec 2023. 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

A vulnerability was found in automad up to 1.10.9. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /dashboard?controller=UserCollection::createUser of the component User Creation Handler. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-248687. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Weakness: CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-7038?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `automad/automad` | Packagist | All versions | 2.0.0-alpha.1 |
| `automad/automad` | Packagist | All versions | 2.0.0-alpha.1 |

Products: Automad Automad.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-7038?

Upgrade automad/automad to 2.0.0-alpha.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-7038 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-7038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in automad

- [CVE-2024-40400](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40400/): Automad arbitrary file upload vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-7037](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7037/): automad FileController.php import server-side request forgery (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2021-37502](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37502/): Cross site scripting in automad/automad (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2024-40111](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40111/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.8)
- [CVE-2023-7035](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7035/): automad Setting post.php cross site scripting (medium 4.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-7038 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-7038 is a medium-severity vulnerability in automad, published on 21 Dec 2023. 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-2023-7038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- automad/automad (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 2.0.0-alpha.1
- automad/automad (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 2.0.0-alpha.1

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-2023-7038/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7038/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7038
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7038
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-7038

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7038/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.