CVE-2023-48238
7.5 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2023-48238 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting joaquimserafim json_web_token. It was published on November 17, 2023 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
joaquimserafim/json-web-token is a javascript library use to interact with JSON Web Tokens (JWT) which are a compact URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. Versions prior to 4.0.0 are vulnerable to a JWT algorithm confusion attack. On line 86 of the 'index.js' file, the algorithm to use for verifying the signature of the JWT token is taken from the JWT token, which at that point is still unverified and thus shouldn't be trusted. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs to craft a malicious JWT token containing the HS256 algorithm, signed with the public RSA key of the victim application. This attack will only work against this library is the RS256 algorithm is in use, however it is a best practice to use that algorithm. Version 4.0.0 fixes the issue.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from joaquimserafim. Update json_web_token to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| joaquimserafim | json_web_token | >= 0, < 3.1.1 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-48238?
CVE-2023-48238 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting joaquimserafim json_web_token. It was published on November 17, 2023 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2023-48238?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2023-48238?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from joaquimserafim. Update json_web_token to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2023-48238?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2023-48238 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
AI-driven PR review catches vulnerable dependencies before they ship.
Browser-based exploitation validates findings with real proof-of-concept.
Related HIGH CVEs from 2023
View all →support_uri parameter in the WARP client local settings file (mdm.xml) lacked proper validation whic
ZoneMinder is a free, open source Closed-circuit television software application for Linux which sup
ZoneMinder is a free, open source Closed-circuit television software application for Linux which sup
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform. Starting in version 12.10, a user without script rights c
XWiki Commons are technical libraries common to several other top level XWiki projects. The Livetab
XWiki Commons are technical libraries common to several other top level XWiki projects. A user witho
Session Validation attacks in Apache Superset versions up to and including 2.0.1. Installations that
Leantime is a lean open source project management system. Starting in version 2.3.21, an authenticat
IBM Security Guardium 11.3, 11.4, and 11.5 is vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting. This vulner
Thanks to the weaknesses that the web application has at the user management level, an attack
JumpServer is an open source bastion host. Logged-in users can access and modify the contents of any
lte-pic32-writer is a writer for PIC32 devices. In versions 0.0.1 and prior, those who use `sendto.t