Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Knowage-Server has an authenticated file download flaw that can let a low-privileged user read files outside the intended template directory. The main business risk is disclosure of sensitive server configuration, which could expose secrets or operational details. The vendor advisory says the issue is fixed in version 8.1.8.
Executive priority
Treat this as a prompt patching item for any Knowage deployment with many users or sensitive server-side configuration. It is not rated critical and has no provided active exploitation evidence, but successful abuse can disclose high-value secrets and configuration data.
Technical view
CVE-2023-36819 is a CWE-22 path traversal in the Knowage REST endpoint for dossier template downloads. The templateName parameter was not sanitized, allowing authenticated users to escape the intended template directory and download arbitrary system files. Sources identify affected Knowage-Server versions starting in 6.x.x and before 8.1.8.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in organizations running Knowage-Server 6.x.x through versions before 8.1.8, especially where low-privileged users can authenticate to the application. The issue affects confidentiality, not integrity or availability, based on the CVSS vector.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires authenticated access and targets a file download function. Public sources describe the vulnerable parameter and impact, but this assessment does not include exploit instructions.
Researcher notes
CVSS 3.1 is 6.5 with AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Evidence is limited to the CVE data and GitHub advisory. Validate exact deployed versions and confirm remediation against vendor guidance rather than assuming unrelated Knowage components are affected.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Knowage-Server to version 8.1.8 or later.
- Review the GitHub advisory for vendor-specific remediation guidance.
- Inventory all Knowage deployments and identify versions before 8.1.8.
- Restrict application access to trusted users while patching is pending.
- Review sensitive configuration exposure risk on affected servers.
Validation and detection
- Confirm the installed Knowage-Server version on each deployment.
- Check whether deployments are version 6.x.x or later but before 8.1.8.
- Review access logs for suspicious dossier template download requests.
- Verify low-privileged accounts cannot access sensitive server files after remediation.
- Document any exposed configuration files for incident review.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-36819 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N2.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/KnowageLabs/Knowage-Server/security/advisories/GHSA-jw99-hxxj-75g2CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.