CVE-2026-49459 — DOMPurify: IN_PLACE mode preserves attributes of a clobbered root element, allowing XSS via attacker-controlled root DOM
DOMPurify is a DOM-only cross-site scripting sanitizer for HTML, MathML, and SVG. Prior to 3.4.6, DOMPurify.sanitize(root, { IN_PLACE: true }) could preserve event-handler attributes on an attacker-controlled <form> root when a descendant name clobbered properties checked by _isClobbered, because _forceRemove no-opped on the parent-less root and _sanitizeAttributes returned early. This issue is fixed in version 3.4.6.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (medium)+3
- CISA SSVC: exploitation "poc"+5
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — github.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented mitigation — github.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Cure53 Dompurify).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Exploitation requires user interaction: tighten email/web filtering and warn affected users.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (cross-site scripting), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 2.8 | 2.7 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 6.1 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N (score shown at the top: security-advisories@github.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Monitor CSP violation reports and script payloads in reflected parameters.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · cure53/dompurify
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- CVSS changed · 6.1
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
3 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-109345 DOMPurify before 3.4.16 XSS via IN_PLACE Returned Rawtext Root 3d
- Medium CVE-2026-109344 DOMPurify from 3.4.13 before 3.4.16 DOM XSS via IN_PLACE afterSanitize Hooks 3d
- Medium CVE-2026-66010 Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in Cure53 Dompurify Jul 24, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-65914 Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in Cure53 Dompurify Jul 23, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-65911 Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in Cure53 Dompurify Jul 23, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-65912 Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in Cure53 Dompurify Jul 23, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-49459 is "DOMPurify: IN_PLACE mode preserves attributes of a clobbered root element, allowing XSS via attacker-controlled root DOM", rated Medium. It affects Dompurify (Cure53); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 6.1 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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