{"cve":"CVE-2023-40021","nvd":{"published":"2023-08-16T21:15:09.880","modified":"2026-06-17T06:15:47.100","status":"Modified","description":"Oppia is an online learning platform. When comparing a received CSRF token against the expected token, Oppia uses the string equality operator (`==`), which is not safe against timing attacks. By repeatedly submitting invalid tokens, an attacker can brute-force the expected CSRF token character by character. Once they have recovered the token, they can then submit a forged request on behalf of a logged-in user and execute privileged actions on that user's behalf. In particular the function to validate received CSRF tokens is at `oppia.core.controllers.base.CsrfTokenManager.is_csrf_token_valid`. An attacker who can lure a logged-in Oppia user to a malicious website can perform any change on Oppia that the user is authorized to do, including changing profile information; creating, deleting, and changing explorations; etc. Note that the attacker cannot change a user's login credentials. An attack would need to complete within 1 second because every second, the time used in computing the token changes. This issue has been addressed in commit `b89bf80837` which has been included in release `3.3.2-hotfix-2`. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.","cvss_v4":null,"cvss_v3":{"version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N","score":5.3},"cwes":["CWE-203","CWE-208"],"references":["https://github.com/oppia/oppia/blob/3a05c3558a292f3db9e658e60e708c266c003fd0/core/controllers/base.py#L964-L990","https://github.com/oppia/oppia/commit/b89bf808378c1236874b5797a7bda32c77b4af23","https://github.com/oppia/oppia/pull/18769","https://github.com/oppia/oppia/security/advisories/GHSA-49jp-pjc3-2532","https://github.com/oppia/oppia/blob/3a05c3558a292f3db9e658e60e708c266c003fd0/core/controllers/base.py#L964-L990"],"products":["oppia:oppia"],"source":"nvd","synced_at":"2026-10-19T21:39:14.809778102+00:00"},"epss":{"cve":"CVE-2023-40021","score":0.00774,"percentile":0.55755,"date":"2026-11-01"},"kev":null,"osv":[],"attribution":["This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.","EPSS scores: FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System, https://www.first.org/epss","Known exploited vulnerabilities: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog","Package advisories: OSV (https://osv.dev), from the GitHub Advisory Database, PyPA, Go, RustSec and other ecosystem databases, under CC-BY 4.0 or CC0","CVE records: the CVE Program's CVE List (https://www.cve.org), under its terms of use (https://www.cve.org/Legal/TermsOfUse). CVE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation; this product is not affiliated with the CVE Program."]}