Read the docs
TI-2023-14848 Aliases CVE-2023-31138

DHIS2 Core vulnerable to Improper Access Control with PATCH requests

Priority LOW 32CWE-284Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · High · Low
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-284.

Summary

DHIS2 Core contains the service layer and Web API for DHIS2, an information system for data capture. Starting in the 2.36 branch and prior to versions 2.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, and 2.39.1.2, using object model traversal in the payload of a PATCH request, authenticated users with write access to an object may be able to modify related objects that they should not have access to. DHIS2 implementers should upgrade to a supported version of DHIS2 to receive a patch: 2.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, or 2.39.1.2. It is possible to work around this issue by blocking all PATCH requests on a reverse proxy, but this may cause some issues with the functionality of built-in applications using legacy PATCH requests.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00609 49th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed dhis2-core (dhis2): 2.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, 2.39.1.2

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
dhis2dhis2-core2.36 to before 2.37.9.1; 2.38 to before 2.38.3.1; 2.39 to before 2.39.1.22.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, 2.39.1.2Patch availableCNA
  • dhis2-core Vendordhis2 Affected 2.36 to before 2.37.9.1; 2.38 to before 2.38.3.1; 2.39 to before 2.39.1.2 Fixed in 2.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, 2.39.1.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:dhis2:dhis_2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*2.36.0 to before 2.37.9.1; 2.38.0 to before 2.38.3.1; 2.39.0 to before 2.39.1.2Vulnerabledhis2
  • cpe:2.3:a:dhis2:dhis_2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.36.0 to before 2.37.9.1; 2.38.0 to before 2.38.3.1; 2.39.0 to before 2.39.1.2 Vulnerable ·dhis2

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA dhis2-core (dhis2) Fixed in 2.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, 2.39.1.2

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-31138

References

  • TI-2022-08660 SQL Injection in DHIS2's in OrgUnit program association CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-16565 SQL Injection in DHIS2 Tracker API CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-18026 SQL Injection in DHIS2 Tracker API CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-12372 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') in dhis2-core CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-20289 Privilege Chaining with the user admin role in dhis2-core CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.2
  • TI-2023-14849 DHIS2 Core unrestricted session cookies with Personal Access Tokens CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 9 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences