CVE-2021-39887Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Stored XSS via unsanitized autocomplete template interpolation

Published Oct 5, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Stored XSS in GitLab GFM autocomplete allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript in another user's browser. The autocomplete template passes an attacker-controlled issue title through At.js interpolation while leaving its search variable unsanitized, causing injected HTML to render. Exploitation requires the victim to type an autocomplete trigger in the affected project, exposing the victim's session to attacker-controlled script actions.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stored XSS in GitLab GFM autocomplete allows remote authenticated users to execute JavaScript in another user's browser. The autocomplete template passes an attacker-controlled issue title through At.js interpolation while leaving its search variable unsanitized, causing injected HTML to render. Exploitation requires the victim to type an autocomplete trigger in the affected project, exposing the victim's session to attacker-controlled script actions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39887
Published
Oct 5, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
CWE-79, T1189
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 5, 2021CVE 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=>=14.2, <14.2.5
  2. Affected versionversion=>=14.3, <14.3.1
  3. Affected versionversion=>=8.4, <14.1.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=>=14.2, <14.2.5; version=>=14.3, <14.3.1; version=>=8.4, <14.1.7

Published CVSS scores

5.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
7.3GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
3.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1189Drive-by Compromise

Public exploit references

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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