CVE-2023-49093: HtmlUnit is a GUI-less browser for Java programs

Q: How do I fix CVE-2023-49093?

htmlunit: upgrade to 3.9.0. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2023-49093 being exploited?

CVE-2023-49093 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2023-49093 affect?

CVE-2023-49093 affects htmlunit. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). HtmlUnit is a GUI-less browser for Java programs. HtmlUnit is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) via XSTL, when browsing the attacker’s webpage. This vulnerability has been patched in version 3.9.0

Q: How urgent is CVE-2023-49093?

Priority 65/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADE

CVE-2023-49093 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting htmlunit. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

HtmlUnit is a GUI-less browser for Java programs. HtmlUnit is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) via XSTL, when browsing the attacker’s webpage. This vulnerability has been patched in version 3.9.0

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.4% (top 16%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-94
Published	2023-12-04
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): GitHub, Inc. · Vendor: htmlunit

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-12-04 05:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:35 UTCUpdated Record last modified

htmlunit htmlunit UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.9.0

Fixed in: 3.9.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 3.9.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade htmlunit

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade htmlunit

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

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-2023-49093?

htmlunit: upgrade to 3.9.0. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-49093 being exploited?

CVE-2023-49093 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-2023-49093 affect?

CVE-2023-49093 affects htmlunit. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). HtmlUnit is a GUI-less browser for Java programs. HtmlUnit is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) via XSTL, when browsing the attacker’s webpage. This vulnerability has been patched in version 3.9.0

How urgent is CVE-2023-49093?

Priority 65/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Java vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-26119 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE Versions of the package net.sourceforge.htmlunit:htmlunit from 0 and before 3.0.0 are vulnerable to Remote Cod
CVE-2023-2798 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Those using HtmlUnit to browse untrusted webpages may be vulnerable to Denial of service attacks (DoS)
CVE-2022-29546 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE HtmlUnit NekoHtml Parser before 2.61.0 suffers from a denial of service vulnerability
CVE-2022-28366 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE UPGRADE Certain Neko-related HTML parsers allow a denial of service via crafted Processing Instruction (PI) input that
CVE-2020-5529 HIGH 8.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE HtmlUnit prior to 2.37.0 contains code execution vulnerabilities

References

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