Saltcorn's Reflected XSS and Command Injection vulnerabilities can be chained for 1-click-RCE
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Code execution, Cross-site scripting
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-77 and CWE-79.
Summary
### Summary 1. There is a reflected XSS vulnerability in the GET /admin/edit-codepage/:name route through the name parameter. This can be used to hijack the session of an admin if they click a specially crafted link. 2. Additionally, there is a Command Injection vulnerability in GET /admin/backup. The admin can inject a shell command in the backup password which is inserted in the command used to create the backup zip. Both vulnerabilities can be chained to craft a malicious link which will execute an arbitrary shell command on the server if it is clicked by a saltcorn admin with an active session. I believe iframes could also be used to exploit this silently when the admin visits an attacker-controlled web page (though I have not tested that). ### Details 1. The XSS vulnerability is here: https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn/blob/020893c0001678fd5ebd2c088ba68b395de1aabc/packages/server/routes/admin.js#L4886-L4887 Specifically, the name parameter is inserted into the pages breadcrumbs without sanitization. 2. The Command Injection happens here: https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn/blob/020893c0001678fd5ebd2c088ba68b395de1aabc/packages/saltcorn-admin-models/models/backup.ts#L381-L382 ### PoC 1. A minimal PoC for the XSS can be as simple as: http://localhost:3000/admin/edit-codepage/%3Cimg%20src%3Dx%20onerror%3Dalert%281%29%3E%0A (assuming saltcorn running at localhost:3000 and the user having an active admin session) 2. For the Command Injection, visit the backup section of saltcorn, set an admin password like `";$(whoami);"` (including the quotation marks) and then click "Download a backup" in the "Manual backup" section. This should display an error page saying that /bin/sh could not find the binary named "root" or "saltcorn", depending on the user. An example of an exploit that chains both vulnerabilities and generates the aforementioned malicious link: [exploit.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/24356819/exploit.zip) ### Affected Versions Edit: The following Docker containers from docker hub were tested: 1.4.1, 1.4.0, 1.3.1, 1.3.0, 1.2.0, 1.1.2, 1.1.1, 1.0.0 The Command Injection is applicable to versions >= 1.3.0. The XSS is applicable to versions >= 1.1.1
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | @saltcorn/server (npm) | 1.1.1 to before 1.5.0-beta.19 | 1.5.0-beta.19 | Patch available | GHSA-cr3w-cw5w-h3fj |
- @saltcorn/server (npm) Vendor— Affected 1.1.1 to before 1.5.0-beta.19 Fixed in 1.5.0-beta.19 Patch available GHSA-cr3w-cw5w-h3fj
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-cr3w-cw5w-h3fj @saltcorn/server (npm) Fixed in 1.5.0-beta.19 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-cr3w-cw5w-h3fj
References
Other 5
- https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn/security/advisories/GHSA-cr3w-cw5w-h3fj
- https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn/commit/1bf681e08c45719a52afcf3506fb5ec59f4974d5
- https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn
- https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn/blob/020893c0001678fd5ebd2c088ba68b395de1aabc/packages/saltcorn-admin-models/models/backup.ts#L381-L382
- https://github.com/saltcorn/saltcorn/blob/020893c0001678fd5ebd2c088ba68b395de1aabc/packages/server/routes/admin.js#L4886-L4887
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences