Open-Source Security Intelligence

Know every vulnerability
before it knows you.

DevGuard continuously monitors your dependencies and alerts you when CVEs like this one affect your stack — with real-time threat intelligence built for developers.

Checkout DevGuardView on GitHub
Search

GHSA-j3w7-9qc3-g96p

HighCVSS 7.2 / 10
Published Oct 23, 2025·Last modified Oct 23, 2025
Affected Components(0)

No affected components available

Description

Impact

Development mode only. Kottster contains a pre-authentication remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability when running in development mode.

The vulnerability combines two issues:

  1. The initApp action can be called repeatedly without checking if the app is already initialized, allowing attackers to create a new root admin account and obtain a JWT token
  2. The installPackagesForDataSource action uses unescaped command arguments, enabling command injection

An attacker with access to a locally running development instance can chain these vulnerabilities to:

  • Reinitialize the application and receive a JWT token for a new root account
  • Use this token to authenticate
  • Execute arbitrary system commands through installPackagesForDataSource

Production deployments were never affected.

Patches

Fixed in v3.3.2.

Specifically, @kottster/server v3.3.2 and @kottster/cli v3.3.2 address this vulnerability.

We recommend developers using earlier versions of @kottster/server and @kottster/cli update all the core packages to latest release:

npm install @kottster/common@latest @kottster/cli@latest @kottster/server@latest @kottster/react@latest

Workarounds

  • Do not expose development servers to public networks or untrusted users
  • Use production mode for any deployment accessible from outside trusted environments

Credit

We sincerely thank Jeongwon Jo (@P0cas) from RedAlert for discovering and responsibly disclosing this vulnerability.

Risk Scores
Base Score
7.2

The vulnerability can be exploited over the network without needing physical access. It is easy for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker does not need any special privileges or access rights. No user interaction is needed for the attacker to exploit this vulnerability.

Threat Intelligence
7.2

Exploitation activity has been observed. Apply available patches or mitigations urgently.

EPSS
0.74%

The exploit probability is very low. The vulnerability is unlikely to be exploited in the next 30 days.

Exploit
Not available

We did not find any exploit available. Neither in GitHub repositories nor in the Exploit-Database.

Related Vulnerabilities

Browse More

High severity
Scan your project

Continuously monitor your dependencies and get alerted when vulnerabilities like this one affect your stack.

Checkout DevGuard