CVE-2021-23445Network attack vector

Cross-site scripting via unescaped array elements

Published Sep 27, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Cross-site scripting in DataTables before 1.11.3 allows remote attackers to execute script in a user's browser through array-valued table data. The __htmlEscapeEntities helper tests only for a string and otherwise returns the value unchanged, so array elements containing markup bypass entity replacement. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled array data to reach a rendered table and a user to view the affected page, enabling script execution in that page's security context.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability1.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cross-site scripting in DataTables before 1.11.3 allows remote attackers to execute script in a user's browser through array-valued table data. The __htmlEscapeEntities helper tests only for a string and otherwise returns the value unchanged, so array elements containing markup bypass entity replacement. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled array data to reach a rendered table and a user to view the affected page, enabling script execution in that page's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23445
Published
Sep 27, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
SpryMedia Ltd
Product
DataTables
Classifications
CWE-79, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 27, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <1.11.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SpryMedia Ltd · DataTablesversion=unspecified <1.11.3

Published CVSS scores

6.1GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/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.

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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.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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