kiwitcms vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting via unrestricted file upload
Impact
Kiwi TCMS allows users to upload attachments to test plans, test cases, etc. Earlier versions of Kiwi TCMS had introduced upload validators in order to prevent potentially dangerous files from being uploaded and Content-Security-Policy definition to prevent cross-site-scripting attacks.
The upload validation checks were not 100% robust which left the possibility to circumvent them and upload a potentially dangerous file which allows execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the browser. Additionally we've discovered that Nginx's proxy_pass directive will strip some headers negating protections built into Kiwi TCMS when served behind a reverse proxy.
Patches
- Improved file upload validation code
- Updated Nginx reverse proxy configuration for *.tenant.kiwitcms.org
Workarounds
If serving Kiwi TCMS behind a reverse proxy make sure that additional header values are still passed to the client browser. If they aren't redefine them inside the proxy configuration. See etc/nginx.conf#L66-L68 and etc/nginx.conf#L87
References
Disclosed by M Nadeem Qazi.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | kiwitcms | < 12.4 | 12.4 |
References
- https://github.com/kiwitcms/Kiwi/security/advisories/GHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-33977
- https://github.com/kiwitcms/kiwi/commit/d789f4b51025de4f8c747c037d02e1b0da80b034
- https://github.com/kiwitcms/Kiwi
- https://github.com/kiwitcms/Kiwi/blob/master/etc/nginx.conf#L66-L68
- https://github.com/kiwitcms/Kiwi/blob/master/etc/nginx.conf#L87
- https://huntr.dev/bounties/6aea9a26-e29a-467b-aa5a-f767f0c2ec96
- https://kiwitcms.org/blog/kiwi-tcms-team/2023/06/06/kiwi-tcms-124
- https://pypi.org/project/kiwitcms
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-434, CWE-79- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
kiwitcms- Disclosed
- 06.06.2023
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-1495 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-2fqm-m4r2-fh98 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: kiwitcms
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 13
- First → latest
- 11.2022 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 3
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 7
- Medium 3
- Low 3
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 9
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 3
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