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GHSA-w998-qmw9-mf4m

MediumCVSS 4.8 / 10
Published Sep 23, 2026·Last modified Sep 23, 2026
Affected Components(1)
Packagist logoredaxo/source
< 5.21.2
Description

Summary

The mediapool sync page (sync.php) renders filenames from the /media filesystem directory directly into HTML without applying rex_escape() (i.e., htmlspecialchars). Any file placed in the media directory whose filename contains HTML metacharacters will execute JavaScript in the browser of any backend user who views the sync page.

Details

In redaxo/src/addons/mediapool/pages/sync.php, the variable $diffFiles is populated from actual filesystem filenames (files in /media/ not yet registered in the database). These filenames are then rendered without escaping:

File: redaxo/src/addons/mediapool/pages/sync.php:119-120

foreach ($diffFiles as $file) {
    if (is_writable(rex_path::media($file))) {
        $e = [];
        $e['label'] = '<label>' . $file . '</label>';          // NO rex_escape!
        $e['field'] = '<input type="checkbox" name="sync_files[]" value="' . $file . '" />'; // NO rex_escape!
        $writable[] = $e;
    } else {
        $notWritable[] = $file;
    }
}

File: redaxo/src/addons/mediapool/pages/sync.php:170

$fragment->setVar('body', '<ul><li>' . implode('</li><li>', $notWritable) . '</li></ul>', false);
// $notWritable contains unescaped filenames

By contrast, all other filename displays in the codebase use rex_escape($fname) (e.g., media.detail.php:236, media.list.php). The sync page is accessible to any backend user with the media[sync] permission (not exclusively admins).

PoC

  1. Place a file named <img src=x onerror=alert(document.cookie)>.txt into the REDAXO /media/ directory (via backup restore or server access) without adding it to the media database.
  2. Log in as any backend user with media[sync] permission.
  3. Navigate to Mediapool → Sync.
  4. The XSS payload executes immediately, stealing the admin session cookie.

Impact

Stored XSS in the admin panel. An attacker who can place files in the media directory (via admin-level backup restore or server access) can achieve persistent XSS against all users who visit the sync page, including higher-privileged admins. This enables session hijacking, credential theft, and full CMS takeover.

Fix

Apply rex_escape() to all filename variables before inserting into HTML:

$e['label'] = '<label>' . rex_escape($file) . '</label>';
$e['field'] = '<input type="checkbox" name="sync_files[]" value="' . rex_escape($file) . '" />';
// ...
$fragment->setVar('body', '<ul><li>' . implode('</li><li>', array_map('rex_escape', $notWritable)) . '</li></ul>', false);
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Risk Scores
Base Score
4.8

The vulnerability can be exploited over the network without needing physical access. It is easy for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker needs high-level or administrative privileges. The attacker needs the user to perform some action, like clicking a link. The vulnerability can affect other systems as well, not just the initial system. There is a low impact on the confidentiality of the information. There is a low impact on the integrity of the data.

Threat Intelligence
4.4

Exploitation attempts have been detected. Elevated vigilance and prompt remediation are advised.

EPSS
0.18%

The exploit probability is very low. The vulnerability is unlikely to be exploited in the next 30 days.

Exploit
Not available

We did not find any exploit available. Neither in GitHub repositories nor in the Exploit-Database.

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