Cross-site scripting (XSS) from writer field content in the site frontend
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- 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
Kirby is an open source file structured CMS ### Impact Kirby's writer field stores its formatted content as HTML code. Unlike with other field types, it is not possible to escape HTML special characters against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, otherwise the formatting would be lost. If the user is logged in to the Panel, a harmful script can for example trigger requests to Kirby's API with the permissions of the victim. Because the writer field did not securely sanitize its contents on save, it was possible to inject malicious HTML code into the content file by sending it to Kirby's API directly without using the Panel. This malicious HTML code would then be displayed on the site frontend and executed in the browsers of site visitors and logged in users who are browsing the site. Attackers must be in your group of authenticated Panel users in order to exploit this weakness. Users who do not make use of the writer field are not affected. This issue has been patched in Kirby 3.5.8 by sanitizing all writer field contents on the backend whenever the content is modified via Kirby's API. Please update to this or a later version to fix the vulnerability.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| getkirby | kirby | 3.5.0 to before 3.5.8 | 3.5.8 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | getkirby/cms (Packagist) | 3.5.0 to before 3.5.8 | 3.5.8 | Patch available | GHSA-x7j7-qp7j-hw3q |
- kirby Vendorgetkirby Affected 3.5.0 to before 3.5.8 Fixed in 3.5.8 Patch available CNA
- getkirby/cms (Packagist) Vendor— Affected 3.5.0 to before 3.5.8 Fixed in 3.5.8 Patch available GHSA-x7j7-qp7j-hw3q
Remediation
- Fix · CNA kirby (getkirby) Fixed in 3.5.8
- Fix · GHSA-x7j7-qp7j-hw3q getkirby/cms (Packagist) Fixed in 3.5.8 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-41252
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x7j7-qp7j-hw3q
References
Advisory 3
More getkirby Kirby vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-17440 An arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Profile Image module of Kirby CMS v4.1.0… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-17439 An HTML injection vulnerability exists in the Edit Content Layout module of Kirby CMS… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
- TI-2026-23396 Kirby CMS through 5.1.4 allows an authenticated user with 'Editor' permissions to cause a… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2024-17441 A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Edit Content Layout module of… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
- TI-2018-10413 An issue was discovered in Kirby 2.5.12. CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.4
- TI-2024-17438 Kirby CMS v4.1.0 was discovered to contain a reflected self-XSS vulnerability via the URL parameter. CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.7
Sources
- CVE-2021-41252 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-41252 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-x7j7-qp7j-hw3q · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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