Stored XSS via unescaped list start
Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Stored XSS in Etherpad before 3.3.1 allows attackers to execute script in other users' browsers via a crafted .etherpad import. result.appendSpan in src/static/js/domline.ts writes the numbered-list start value into an unquoted ol start attribute and then into node.innerHTML, while ImportEtherpad.setPadRaw accepts attacker-controlled attribute-pool values from imported .etherpad files without validating start. Exploitation requires write access to a pad and a victim opening the pad or /timeslider; on default public pads, ordinary anonymous write access is enough, and an administrator who views the pad exposes the same-origin admin session to attacker JavaScript.
Summary
What happened
Stored XSS in Etherpad before 3.3.1 allows attackers to execute script in other users' browsers via a crafted .etherpad import. result.appendSpan in src/static/js/domline.ts writes the numbered-list start value into an unquoted ol start attribute and then into node.innerHTML, while ImportEtherpad.setPadRaw accepts attacker-controlled attribute-pool values from imported .etherpad files without validating start. Exploitation requires write access to a pad and a victim opening the pad or /timeslider; on default public pads, ordinary anonymous write access is enough, and an administrator who views the pad exposes the same-origin admin session to attacker JavaScript.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-55085
- Published
- Aug 19, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Etherpad Foundation
- Product
- Etherpad
- Classifications
- CWE-79, T1189
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 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=< 3.3.1
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
- GHSA-f7h5-v9hm-548j proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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