How severe is CVE-2023-36460?

CVE-2023-36460 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.9, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2023-36460 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 40% (98th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-36460?

CVE-2023-36460 affects Joinmastodon Mastodon. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-36460?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2023-36460 published?

CVE-2023-36460 was published on 2023-07-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-36460

CVE-2023-36460 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Joinmastodon Mastodon with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.9. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 40% places it in the 98th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-22.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.9)
EPSS exploit prediction: 40% (98th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-22
Affected product: Joinmastodon Mastodon
Published: 2023-07-06
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Starting in version 3.5.0 and prior to versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3, attackers using carefully crafted media files can cause Mastodon's media processing code to create arbitrary files at any location. This allows attackers to create and overwrite any file Mastodon has access to, allowing Denial of Service and arbitrary Remote Code Execution. Versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3 contain a patch for this issue.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-36460?: Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Starting in version 3.5.0 and prior to versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3, attackers using carefully crafted media files can cause Mastodon's media processing code to create arbitrary files at any location. This allows attackers to create and overwrite any file Mastodon has access to, allowing Denial of Service and arbitrary Remote Code Execution. Versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3 contain a patch for this issue.
How severe is CVE-2023-36460?: CVE-2023-36460 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.9, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2023-36460 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 40% (98th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-36460?: CVE-2023-36460 affects Joinmastodon Mastodon. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-36460?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2023-36460 published?: CVE-2023-36460 was published on 2023-07-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:joinmastodon:mastodon:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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