XSS via JQLite DOM manipulation functions in AngularJS
Key facts
- Attack vector
- —
- Privileges required
- —
- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Cross-site scripting
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-79.
Summary
### Summary XSS may be triggered in AngularJS applications that sanitize user-controlled HTML snippets before passing them to `JQLite` methods like `JQLite.prepend`, `JQLite.after`, `JQLite.append`, `JQLite.replaceWith`, `JQLite.append`, `new JQLite` and `angular.element`. ### Description JQLite (DOM manipulation library that's part of AngularJS) manipulates input HTML before inserting it to the DOM in `jqLiteBuildFragment`. One of the modifications performed [expands an XHTML self-closing tag](https://github.com/angular/angular.js/blob/418355f1cf9a9a9827ae81d257966e6acfb5623a/src/jqLite.js#L218). If `jqLiteBuildFragment` is called (e.g. via `new JQLite(aString)`) with user-controlled HTML string that was sanitized (e.g. with [DOMPurify](https://github.com/cure53/DOMPurify)), the transformation done by JQLite may modify some forms of an inert, sanitized payload into a payload containing JavaScript - and trigger an XSS when the payload is inserted into DOM. This is similar to a bug in jQuery `htmlPrefilter` function that was [fixed in 3.5.0](https://blog.jquery.com/2020/04/10/jquery-3-5-0-released/). ### Proof of concept ```javascript const inertPayload = `<div><style><style/><img src=x onerror="alert(1337)"/>` ``` Note that the style element is not closed and `<img` would be a text node inside the style if inserted into the DOM as-is. As such, some HTML sanitizers would leave the `<img` as is without processing it and stripping the `onerror` attribute. ```javascript angular.element(document).append(inertPayload); ``` This will alert, as `<style/>` will be replaced with `<style></style>` before adding it to the DOM, closing the style element early and reactivating `img`. ### Patches The issue is patched in `JQLite` bundled with angular 1.8.0. AngularJS users using JQuery should upgrade JQuery to 3.5.0, as a similar vulnerability [affects jQuery <3.5.0](https://github.com/jquery/jquery/security/advisories/GHSA-gxr4-xjj5-5px2). ### Workarounds Changing sanitizer configuration not to allow certain tag grouping (e.g. `<option><style></option>`) or inline style elements may stop certain exploitation vectors, but it's uncertain if all possible exploitation vectors would be covered. Upgrade of AngularJS to 1.8.0 is recommended. ### References https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-mhp6-pxh8-r675 https://github.com/jquery/jquery/security/advisories/GHSA-gxr4-xjj5-5px2 https://github.com/jquery/jquery/security/advisories/GHSA-jpcq-cgw6-v4j6 https://blog.jquery.com/2020/04/10/jquery-3-5-0-released/ https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-ANGULAR-570058
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | angular (npm) | before 1.8.0 | 1.8.0 | Patch available | GHSA-5cp4-xmrw-59wf |
- angular (npm) Vendor— Affected before 1.8.0 Fixed in 1.8.0 Patch available GHSA-5cp4-xmrw-59wf
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-5cp4-xmrw-59wf angular (npm) Fixed in 1.8.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-5cp4-xmrw-59wf
References
Other 5
- https://github.com/google/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-5cp4-xmrw-59wf
- https://github.com/jquery/jquery/security/advisories/GHSA-gxr4-xjj5-5px2
- https://github.com/jquery/jquery/security/advisories/GHSA-jpcq-cgw6-v4j6
- https://blog.jquery.com/2020/04/10/jquery-3-5-0-released
- https://github.com/angular/angular.js
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences