GHSA-c2q3-p4jr-c55f Grav Vulnerable to XSS via Taxonomy Field Values in Admin Panel
SummaryA Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in the Grav CMS Form plugin's select field template. Taxonomy tag and category values are rendered with the Twig `|raw` filter in the admin panel, bypassing the global autoescape protection. An editor-level user can inject arbitrary JavaScript that executes in any administrator's browser session when they view or edit any page in the admin panel.Additionally, Grav's built-in XSS detection (`Security::detectXss()`) can be bypassed by using payloads that close the `<option>/<select>` context and use unquoted event handlers - the `on_events` regex fails to match event handlers without quotes or trailing spaces before `>`.ImportantThe vulnerability is in the Form plugin (`select.html.twig`), which is installed by default with GravThe XSS is cross-page: a malicious taxonomy value on one page executes when an admin edits any page, because taxonomy options are rendered from a shared global poolAn editor can exploit this without any other vulnerability - taxonomy fields are not in the server-side restricted fields listThe `HttpOnly` flag on session cookies prevents direct session theft, but the XSS can steal the admin nonce and perform privileged actions via JavaScriptPermissions NeededEditor: can create or edit pages and set taxonomy tag/category valuesDetailsThe Form plugin's select field template renders option values using the `|raw` Twig filter, which outputs content without HTML escaping:File: `user/plugins/form/templates/forms/fields/select/select.html.twig`The taxonomy field in the page editor uses this select template. When a page has taxonomy values (tags, categories), these values are populated as `<option>` elements in the select dropdown. The `value` attribute is properly escaped by the browser's attribute encoding, but the **display text** between `<option>` tags is rendered raw:Since taxonomy options are collected globally across all pages (to provide autocomplete/selection), a malicious taxonomy value on any page will appear in the taxonomy dropdown of every page editor - making this a cross-page stored XSS.The server-side field restriction in the flex-objects plugin only blocks `['form', 'forms', 'process', 'twig']` for non-super users. Taxonomy fields are not restricted, so editors can freely set arbitrary taxonomy values.XSS Detection BypassGrav's `Security::detectXss()` checks for `dangerous_tags` (e.g., `<script>`, `<iframe>`), `on_events` (event handlers), and `invalid_protocols` (e.g., `javascript:`). However, the `on_events` regex:requires either quotes around the handler value or a trailing space before `>`. An unquoted handler like `onerror=alert(1)>` (no space before `>`) bypasses this check entirely.Combined with `</option></select>` to break out of the select context (neither tag is in `dangerous_tags`), the full payload evades all three detection layers and triggers no XSS warning in the admin panel.PoCStep 1: Login as EditorNavigate to `http://TARGET/admin/` and authenticate with editor credentials.Step 2: Create a Page with Malicious TaxonomyGo to Pages → Add → Add PageTitle: `XSS via editor`Go to **Options** TapOn Taxonomies, Add tag:This payload:Closes `</option></select>` to break out of the select dropdown contextInjects an `<img>` tag with an unquoted `onerror` handler (bypasses `on_events` regex)Is not in the `dangerous_tags` list (no `<script>`, `<iframe>`, etc.)Triggers no XSS warning in the admin panelStep 3: Trigger the XSSWhen any administrator navigates to the page editor of any page (not just the malicious one), the JavaScript executes immediately.The XSS fires because taxonomy tag options are collected globally across all pages and rendered with `|raw` in the select dropdown template. The payload breaks out of the `<option>` context, and the browser renders the `<img>` tag as a regular DOM element.ImpactSession hijacking: While `HttpOnly` prevents direct cookie theft, the XSS can steal the admin nonce token and perform any admin action via AJAX requestsPrivilege escalation: An editor can perform admin-only actions (create users, modify system configuration, install plugins) through the hijacked admin sessionCross-page impact: A single malicious taxonomy value affects the entire admin panel - every page editor view is compromisedMaintainer note — fix applied (2026-04-24)Fixed across two repos:**grav-plugin-form 9.0.1** (commit [`6bffb4c`](https://github.com/getgrav/grav-plugin-form/commit/6bffb4c)) — the primary fix. All four `|raw` filters in [`templates/forms/fields/select/select.html.twig`](https://github.com/getgrav/grav-plugin-form/blob/develop/templates/forms/fields/select/select.html.twig) (placeholder, avalue, suboption, item_value) have been removed. Option labels — including taxonomy values that propagate cross-page through the admin's shared selection pool — now go through Twig's default escaper, so a lower-privileged editor can no longer inject script that runs in an admin's browser when they open any page editor.**Grav core on the `2.0` branch** (commit [`5a12f9be8`](https://github.com/getgrav/grav/commit/5a12f9be8), ships in **2.0.0-beta.2**) — closes the detection-bypass half of the report. The `on_events` regex in `Security::detectXss()` is tightened so unquoted handlers like `onerror=alert(1)>` are flagged (see separate GHSA-9695-8fr9-hw5q), and `option`/`select` have been added to default `security.xss_dangerous_tags` so `</option></select>…` tripwires the detector (see separate GHSA-w8cg-7jcj-4vv2).Sites running admin2 on Grav 2.0.0-beta.2 get the 9.0.1 form plugin automatically via its existing dependency graph.**Files:**[`templates/forms/fields/select/select.html.twig`](https://github.com/getgrav/grav-plugin-form/blob/develop/templates/forms/fields/select/select.html.twig) — four `|raw` removed.[`system/config/security.yaml`](https://github.com/getgrav/grav/blob/2.0/system/config/security.yaml) — dangerous-tags list extended.[`system/src/Grav/Common/Security.php`](https://github.com/getgrav/grav/blob/2.0/system/src/Grav/Common/Security.php) — `on_events` regex tightened.[`tests/unit/Grav/Common/Security/DetectXssTest.php`](https://github.com/getgrav/grav/blob/2.0/tests/unit/Grav/Common/Security/DetectXssTest.php) — includes the GHSA-c2q3 PoC payload.
CVSS v3.1 score: 5.4