CVE-2020-23986Network attack vector

Reflected XSS via unencoded SVG error message

Published Jan 5, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Reflected XSS in GitHub Readme Stats commit 3c7220e4f7144f6cb068fd433c774f6db47ccb95 allows remote attackers to run script in browsers. The renderError function inserts its untrusted message argument directly into an SVG tspan element without HTML encoding. A victim must view the crafted error response, which executes script in the response's browser context and permits limited content access or modification.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reflected XSS in GitHub Readme Stats commit 3c7220e4f7144f6cb068fd433c774f6db47ccb95 allows remote attackers to run script in browsers. The renderError function inserts its untrusted message argument directly into an SVG tspan element without HTML encoding. A victim must view the crafted error response, which executes script in the response's browser context and permits limited content access or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-23986
Published
Jan 5, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-79, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 5, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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