OpenEMR allows inconsistent escaping of translation function output
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Passive
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
OpenEMR is a free and open source electronic health records and medical practice management application. Prior to version 8.0.0, the `xl()` translation function returns unescaped strings. While wrapper functions exist for escaping in different contexts (`xlt()` for HTML, `xla()` for attributes, `xlj()` for JavaScript), there are places in the codebase where `xl()` output is used directly without escaping. If an attacker could insert malicious content into the translation database, these unescaped outputs could lead to XSS. Version 8.0.0 fixes the issue.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA openemr (openemr) Fixed in 8.0.0
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-21443
References
More openemr vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-24664 SQL Injection Vulnerability in ajax graphs library (OpenEMR) CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-85645 Missing write ACL lets users reassign documents in OpenEMR CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2026-28796 OpenEMR 8.2.0 Remote Code Execution via CategoryTree eval() Injection CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.4
- TI-2026-20308 OpenEMR's payments gateway_api_key secret rendered into client JS code CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2026-20093 OpenEMR has SQL Injection in Patient API Sort Parameter CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-20048 OpenEMR Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences