# CVE-2022-45598: Joplin Desktop App cross-site scripting

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-45598-joplin-desktop-app-cross-site-scripting  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-01-31. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-45598 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2023-01-31

Joplin Desktop App is a note-taking and organization application used for managing personal and business information. A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in versions before 2.9.17 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by crafting specially malicious input that bypasses sanitization, potentially compromising user data and system security.

Technologies: [joplin (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/npm-joplin). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-45598 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2022-45598 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2022-45598?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 31 January 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** joplin (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=2.9.17.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2022-45598?** Yes. joplin (npm): upgrade to 2.9.17 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2022-45598 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-45598?** Check whether you run joplin (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- joplin (npm): upgrade to 2.9.17 or later

  ```sh
  npm install joplin@2.9.17
  ```


## Technical details

A cross-site scripting (CWE-79) vulnerability exists in Joplin Desktop App's markdown rendering component due to improper sanitization of user-supplied strings. The vulnerability is triggered when a specially crafted string is passed to the renderer, allowing an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code. The attack requires user interaction (e.g., opening a malicious note) and network access is not required. An attacker can execute arbitrary code in the context of the Joplin application, potentially stealing notes, modifying data, or compromising the host system. The vulnerability was fixed in version 2.9.17 via commit a2de167, which improved input sanitization in the MdToHtml renderer.

## Affected products

- Joplin Desktop App before 2.9.17

## Identifiers

- CVE-2022-45598
- GHSA-h6c2-879r-jffh

## Timeline

- 2023-01-31: disclosed
- 2.9.17: patched

## References

- [https://github.com/laurent22/joplin/commit/a2de167b95debad83a0f0c7925a88c0198db812e](https://github.com/laurent22/joplin/commit/a2de167b95debad83a0f0c7925a88c0198db812e)

## Related threats

- [Joplin Desktop remote code execution in markdown preview links](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-49362-joplin-desktop-remote-code-execution-in-markdown-preview-links)
- [Joplin Cross-site Scripting in HTML area tag](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-37299-joplin-cross-site-scripting-in-html-area-tag)
- [Joplin Desktop cross-site scripting via NOSCRIPT tags](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-33295-joplin-desktop-cross-site-scripting-via-noscript-tags)
- [Joplin cross-site scripting via LINK element](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-28249-joplin-cross-site-scripting-via-link-element)