CVE-2020-26523
Description
Froala Editor before 3.2.2 allows XSS via unsanitized pasted content, enabling arbitrary JavaScript execution.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Froala Editor before 3.2.2 allows XSS via unsanitized pasted content, enabling arbitrary JavaScript execution.
Froala Editor, a JavaScript WYSIWYG HTML editor, is vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) in versions prior to 3.2.2. The flaw arises from insufficient sanitization of pasted content, allowing arbitrary HTML and JavaScript to be injected into the editor [1][3].
An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious payload that, when pasted into the editor by a user, executes in the context of the application. No authentication is required if the editor is publicly accessible, though the attack relies on user interaction (pasting) [3].
Successful exploitation could lead to theft of sensitive data, session hijacking, or defacement of the application [3].
The issue was resolved in Froala Editor version 3.2.2, released in 2020. Users are advised to update to the latest version [1]. The vulnerability is documented in NVD [3].
AI Insight generated on May 21, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected packages
Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.
| Package | Affected versions | Patched versions |
|---|---|---|
froala/wysiwyg-editorPackagist | < 3.2.2 | 3.2.2 |
Affected products
2- Froala/Froala Editordescription
Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"Missing input sanitization in the paste handler allows unneutralized HTML containing JavaScript to be inserted into the page DOM."
Attack vector
An attacker crafts HTML containing malicious JavaScript (e.g., `<img src=x onerror=alert(1)>`) and pastes it into the Froala Editor. The editor fails to neutralize or sanitize the user-controllable input before placing it into the page DOM [CWE-79]. This allows the injected script to execute in the context of the victim's browser session when the pasted content is rendered.
Affected code
The vulnerability exists in the Froala WYSIWYG HTML Editor's paste handling logic. The advisory does not specify exact function or file names, but the issue is in how the editor processes pasted HTML content before version 3.2.2.
What the fix does
The fix was released in Froala Editor version 3.2.2. The advisory does not include a patch diff, but the remediation involves adding proper input sanitization to the paste handler to neutralize script-carrying HTML before it is inserted into the editor's DOM. Users must upgrade to version 3.2.2 or later to close the XSS vector.
Preconditions
- configThe victim must be using Froala Editor version prior to 3.2.2
- inputThe attacker must be able to paste content into the editor (e.g., via clipboard paste event)
- authNo authentication or special network position is required beyond normal access to the editor
Generated on May 31, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
4- github.com/advisories/GHSA-qrhq-x7xh-2784ghsaADVISORY
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-26523ghsaADVISORY
- froala.com/wysiwyg-editor/changelogghsaWEB
- froala.com/wysiwyg-editor/changelog/mitrex_refsource_MISC
News mentions
0No linked articles in our index yet.