Reflected XSS via post-encoding URL decoding
Published Aug 13, 2026 · Updated Aug 13, 2026
Reflected XSS in Serendipity 2.3.5 through 2.6.0 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript through a crafted search link. The serveSearch() handler in include/functions_routing.inc.php applies urldecode() after strip_tags() and HTML encoding, turning encoded input back into live page markup. A victim must open the link; the script then runs in that victim's browser context with the authenticated session's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Reflected XSS in Serendipity 2.3.5 through 2.6.0 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript through a crafted search link. The serveSearch() handler in include/functions_routing.inc.php applies urldecode() after strip_tags() and HTML encoding, turning encoded input back into live page markup. A victim must open the link; the script then runs in that victim's browser context with the authenticated session's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-73628
- Published
- Aug 13, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Serendipity Team
- Product
- Serendipity
- Classifications
- CWE-79, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 13, 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?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
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 search-route executable proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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