CVE-2019-25225: Sanitize html Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qhxp-v273-g94h
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CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-25225 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Sanitize html libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves sanitize-html is vulnerable to xss through incomprehensive sanitization. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.0-beta.

CVE-2019-25225 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-25225
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qhxp-v273-g94h
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Sanitize html
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2019-25225

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Sanitize html dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

sanitize-html fixed: 2.0.0-beta 
npm install sanitize-html@2.0.0-beta
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls sanitize-html

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2019-25225, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls sanitize-html

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Sanitize html in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.0.0-beta), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls sanitize-html command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Sanitize html, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

`sanitize-html` prior to version 2.0.0-beta is vulnerable to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). The `sanitizeHtml()` function in `index.js` does not sanitize content when using the custom `transformTags` option, which is intended to convert attribute values into text. As a result, malicious input can be transformed into executable code.

CVE-2019-25225 Affected Sanitize html Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.0-beta
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
sanitize-html
npm/sanitize-html
npm
< 2.0.0-beta
2.0.0-beta

References

NVD — CVE-2019-25225 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-25225
Sanitize html Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html/issues/293
Sanitize html Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html/pull/156
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html/commit/712cb6895825c8bb6ede71a16b42bade42abcaf3
Sanitize html Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/Checkmarx/Vulnerabilities-Proofs-of-Concept/tree/main/2019/CVE-2019-25225
Sanitize html Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-25225?
CVE-2019-25225 is a security vulnerability in Sanitize html involving sanitize-html is vulnerable to XSS through incomprehensive sanitization under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Sanitize html versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.0-beta across affected packages: sanitize-html.
What version fixes CVE-2019-25225?
Upgrading to 2.0.0-beta (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is sanitize-html affected?
Yes, sanitize-html is affected in releases prior to 2.0.0-beta. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.0-beta or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-25225?
CVE-2019-25225 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-25225?
CVE-2019-25225 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2019-25225?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls sanitize-html'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-qhxp-v273-g94h",
  "modified" : "2025-09-12T20:01:43Z",
  "published" : "2025-09-08T12:30:33Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-25225" ],
  "summary" : "sanitize-html is vulnerable to XSS through incomprehensive sanitization",
  "details" : "`sanitize-html` prior to version 2.0.0-beta is vulnerable to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). The `sanitizeHtml()` function in `index.js` does not sanitize content when using the custom `transformTags` option, which is intended to convert attribute values into text. As a result, malicious input can be transformed into executable code.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "sanitize-html"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.0-beta"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-25225"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html/issues/293"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html/pull/156"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html/commit/712cb6895825c8bb6ede71a16b42bade42abcaf3"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/Checkmarx/Vulnerabilities-Proofs-of-Concept/tree/main/2019/CVE-2019-25225"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apostrophecms/sanitize-html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-09-12T20:01:43Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-09-08T10:15:33Z"
  }
}