TI-2021-04520 Aliases CVE-2021-21422 GHSA-7p8h-86p5-wv3p

XSS Vulnerability in mongo-express

LOW 38CWE-79Published 2021-06-21 · Updated 2024-08-03

Key facts

Attack vector: Network
Privileges required: None
User interaction: Required
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: Cross-site scripting
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: High · High · None
Fix status: Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-79.

Summary

mongo-express is a web-based MongoDB admin interface, written with Node.js and express. 1: As mentioned in this issue: https://github.com/mongo-express/mongo-express/issues/577, when the content of a cell grows larger than supported size, clicking on a row will show full document unescaped, however this needs admin interaction on cell. 2: Data cells identified as media will be rendered as media, without being sanitized. Example of different renders: image, audio, video, etc. As an example of type 1 attack, an unauthorized user who only can send a large amount of data in a field of a document may use a payload with embedded javascript. This could send an export of a collection to the attacker without even an admin knowing. Other types of attacks such as dropping a database\collection are possible.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.0157 75th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD

Fix Fixed mongo-express (mongo-express): v1.0.0-alpha.4mongo-express (npm): 1.0.0-alpha.4

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
mongo-express	mongo-express	before v1.0.0-alpha.4	v1.0.0-alpha.4	Patch available	CNA
—	mongo-express (npm)	before 1.0.0-alpha.4	1.0.0-alpha.4	Patch available	GHSA-7p8h-86p5-wv3p

mongo-express Vendormongo-express Affected before v1.0.0-alpha.4 Fixed in v1.0.0-alpha.4 Patch available CNA
mongo-express (npm) Vendor— Affected before 1.0.0-alpha.4 Fixed in 1.0.0-alpha.4 Patch available GHSA-7p8h-86p5-wv3p

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:mongo-express_project:mongo-express::::::node.js::*	up to 0.54.0	Vulnerable	Mongo-express Project
cpe:2.3:a:mongo-express_project:mongo-express:1.0.0:alpha1::::::	1.0.0 alpha1	Vulnerable	Mongo-express Project
cpe:2.3:a:mongo-express_project:mongo-express:1.0.0:alpha3::::::	1.0.0 alpha3	Vulnerable	Mongo-express Project

cpe:2.3:a:mongo-express_project:mongo-express:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions up to 0.54.0 Vulnerable ·Mongo-express Project
cpe:2.3:a:mongo-express_project:mongo-express:1.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.0 alpha1 Vulnerable ·Mongo-express Project
cpe:2.3:a:mongo-express_project:mongo-express:1.0.0:alpha3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.0 alpha3 Vulnerable ·Mongo-express Project

Remediation

Fix · CNA mongo-express (mongo-express) Fixed in v1.0.0-alpha.4
Fix · GHSA-7p8h-86p5-wv3p mongo-express (npm) Fixed in 1.0.0-alpha.4 Advisory →

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-21422
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7p8h-86p5-wv3p

References

Exploit 2

Patch 1

https://github.com/mongo-express/mongo-express/commit/f5e0d4931f856f032f22664b5e5901d5950cfd4b

Advisory 1

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21422

TI-2019-08023 Code injection in mongo-express KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
TI-2020-14931 mongo-express before 1.0.0 offers support for certain advanced syntax but implements this… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2023-28898 In mongo-express 1.0.2, /admin allows CSRF, as demonstrated by deletion of a Collection. CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
TI-2021-06065 Denial of service (DoS) in mongo-express CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences