CVE-2017-6538: A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue was discovered in webpagetest 3.0

Routine

MEDIUM 6.1DOWNGRADE

CVE-2017-6538 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.1) affecting webpagetest. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue was discovered in webpagetest 3.0. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (video) passed to the webpagetest-master/www/speedindex/index.php URL. An attacker could execute arbitrary HTML and script code in a browser in the context of the vulnerable website.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.1 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 49%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-79
Published	2017-03-08
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: webpagetest project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-03-08 08:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:22 UTCUpdated Record last modified

webpagetest project webpagetest DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy webpagetest || rpm -q webpagetest || webpagetest --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison webpagetest sudo apt install webpagetest=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0> sudo apt-mark hold webpagetest

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list webpagetest sudo dnf downgrade webpagetest-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0> sudo dnf versionlock add webpagetest

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2017-6538?

webpagetest: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-6538 being exploited?

CVE-2017-6538 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2017-6538 affect?

CVE-2017-6538 affects webpagetest. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.1). A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue was discovered in webpagetest 3.0. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (video) passed to the webpagetest-master/www/speedindex/index.php URL. An attacker could exe

How urgent is CVE-2017-6538?

Priority 39/100. Public exploit reference

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

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CVE-2017-6541 MEDIUM 6.1 DOWNGRADE Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issues were discovered in webpagetest 3.0
CVE-2017-6540 MEDIUM 6.1 DOWNGRADE Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issues were discovered in webpagetest 3.0
CVE-2017-6539 MEDIUM 6.1 DOWNGRADE Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issues were discovered in webpagetest 3.0

References

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