CVE-2024-22048: govuk_tech_docs vulnerable to unescaped HTML on search results page
Affects govuk_tech_docsSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 6.1 Medium : upgrade to 3.3.1 when convenient.
Data as of 13 Nov 2026, 19:29 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CISA-ADP | CVSS 3.1 | 6.1 |
|---|
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 3.3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Jan 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 13 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade govuk_tech_docs to 3.3.1.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| RubyGemsgovuk_tech_docs | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Upgrade govuk_tech_docs to version 3.3.1 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed by sanitising HTML in search results. No additional action is required if already using version 3.3.1 or above.
Description
govuk_tech_docs versions from 2.0.2 up to but not including 3.3.1 are vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) issue on the search results page. The vulnerability arises because HTML code snippets in indexed pages appear unsanitised in search results, allowing arbitrary HTML or scripts to be rendered. Exploitation requires an attacker to commit malicious code to an indexed page, which is typically difficult due to restricted editing access. The vulnerability is fixed in version 3.3.1 by sanitising HTML in search results.
References
- github.com/alphagov/tech-docs-gem/security/advisories/GHSA-x2xw-hw8g-6773 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-22048 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/alphagov/tech-docs-gem/pull/323 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/alphagov/tech-docs-gem/commit/a51c7058cec46bf2a4e25a1da62b14ac3fd46b53 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/alphagov/tech-docs-gem (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/alphagov/tech-docs-gem/releases/tag/v3.3.1 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/govuk_tech_docs/CVE-2024-22048.yml (opens in a new tab)