Vulnerabilities in pkg:npm/markdown-it-highlightjs

PACKAGE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-f246-xrrj-g8j6
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-7773 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Markdown it highlightjs libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves cross-site scripting in markdown-it-highlightjs. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.3.1.

1 Known Advisory Record(s)
Package Vulnerability Intelligence

pkg:npm/markdown-it-highlightjs

1 Known Advisory Record(s)

Vulnerability advisories affecting package pkg:npm/markdown-it-highlightjs. Select an advisory below to view technical details or fixes.

Advisory ID CVE / NVD Severity Summary
GHSA-f246-xrrj-g8j6 CVE-2020-7773 MODERATE Cross-site Scripting in markdown-it-highlightjs

CVE-2020-7773 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-7773
GHSA Identifier GHSA-f246-xrrj-g8j6
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 Markdown it highlightjs
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-2020-7773

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

markdown-it-highlightjs fixed: 3.3.1 
npm install markdown-it-highlightjs@3.3.1
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 markdown-it-highlightjs

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2020-7773, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls markdown-it-highlightjs

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Markdown it highlightjs in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.3.1), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls markdown-it-highlightjs 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 Markdown it highlightjs, 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

This affects the package markdown-it-highlightjs before 3.3.1. It is possible insert malicious JavaScript as a value of lang in the markdown-it-highlightjs Inline code highlighting feature. ```js const markdownItHighlightjs = require("markdown-it-highlightjs"); const md = require('markdown-it'); const reuslt_xss = md().use(markdownItHighlightjs, { inline: true }).render('console.log(42){.">js}'); console.log(reuslt_xss); ```

CVE-2020-7773 Affected Markdown it highlightjs Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.3.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
markdown-it-highlightjs
npm/markdown-it-highlightjs
npm
< 3.3.1
3.3.1

References

NVD — CVE-2020-7773 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7773
Markdown it highlightjs Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/valeriangalliat/markdown-it-highlightjs/pull/14
Markdown it highlightjs Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/valeriangalliat/markdown-it-highlightjs/blob/v3.3.0/index.js%23L52
snyk.io/vuln/snyk-js-markdo... WEB
https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MARKDOWNITHIGHLIGHTJS-1040461

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-7773?
CVE-2020-7773 is a security vulnerability in Markdown it highlightjs involving Cross-site Scripting in markdown-it-highlightjs under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Markdown it highlightjs versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.3.1 across affected packages: markdown-it-highlightjs.
What version fixes CVE-2020-7773?
Upgrading to 3.3.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is markdown-it-highlightjs affected?
Yes, markdown-it-highlightjs is affected in releases prior to 3.3.1. Upgrade your dependency to 3.3.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-7773?
CVE-2020-7773 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-2020-7773?
CVE-2020-7773 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-2020-7773?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls markdown-it-highlightjs'. 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-f246-xrrj-g8j6",
  "modified" : "2023-09-05T22:52:01Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-10T20:19:47Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-7773" ],
  "summary" : "Cross-site Scripting in markdown-it-highlightjs",
  "details" : "This affects the package markdown-it-highlightjs before 3.3.1. It is possible insert malicious JavaScript as a value of lang in the markdown-it-highlightjs Inline code highlighting feature. \n\n```js\nconst markdownItHighlightjs = require(\"markdown-it-highlightjs\");\nconst md = require('markdown-it'); \nconst reuslt_xss = md().use(markdownItHighlightjs, { inline: true }).render('console.log(42){.\">js}'); \nconsole.log(reuslt_xss);\n```",
  "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" : "markdown-it-highlightjs"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7773"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/valeriangalliat/markdown-it-highlightjs/pull/14"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/valeriangalliat/markdown-it-highlightjs/blob/v3.3.0/index.js%23L52"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MARKDOWNITHIGHLIGHTJS-1040461"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-04-15T21:12:47Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-11-16T12:15:00Z"
  }
}