Stored XSS via unescaped HTML attribute values
Published Jun 17, 2026 · Updated Jun 17, 2026
Stored XSS in Dave Thomas Earmark 1.4.1 and later allows context-dependent attackers to execute JavaScript through crafted Markdown. The _make_att1/2 function inserts link URL and title values between literal quotation marks without applying the escaping used for text nodes. A bare quotation mark closes the generated attribute, so JavaScript executes when a victim views HTML rendered from attacker-controlled Markdown.
Summary
What happened
Stored XSS in Dave Thomas Earmark 1.4.1 and later allows context-dependent attackers to execute JavaScript through crafted Markdown. The _make_att1/2 function inserts link URL and title values between literal quotation marks without applying the escaping used for text nodes. A bare quotation mark closes the generated attribute, so JavaScript executes when a victim views HTML rendered from attacker-controlled Markdown.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-48591
- Published
- Jun 17, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- Vendor
- Dave Thomas
- Product
- Earmark
- Classifications
- CWE-83, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 17, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=1.4.1 <*
- Affected versionversion=8236a0570bd894b50e360da08131ec3294c20799 <*
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CNA crafted Markdown attribute-injection exampleproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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