CVE-2026-86431

CVE-2026-86431 is a high-severity vulnerability in Thephpleague Commonmark with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-79.

Key facts

Description

league/commonmark (thephpleague/commonmark) versions >= 2.7.0 and < 2.9.1 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability in the AttributesExtension. Prefixing an attribute name with a single U+000C form feed byte (e.g. {\x0Conclick="alert(1)"}) bypasses the AttributesHelper::filterAttributes() 'on*' event-handler filter because PHP's trim() does not strip U+000C, causing the attribute to be written verbatim into the output where browsers parse it as a genuine event handler. The same prefix also defeats the allow_unsafe_links check, allowing javascript: URIs through href/src attributes even when allow_unsafe_links is false. Exploitation requires processing untrusted Markdown with the AttributesExtension enabled; the injected script executes when the rendered HTML is viewed. Fixed in 2.9.1.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-86431?
league/commonmark (thephpleague/commonmark) versions >= 2.7.0 and < 2.9.1 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability in the AttributesExtension. Prefixing an attribute name with a single U+000C form feed byte (e.g. {\x0Conclick="alert(1)"}) bypasses the AttributesHelper::filterAttributes() 'on*' event-handler filter because PHP's trim() does not strip U+000C, causing the attribute to be written verbatim into the output where browsers parse it as a genuine event handler. The same prefix also defeats the allow_unsafe_links check, allowing javascript: URIs through href/src attributes even when allow_unsafe_links is false. Exploitation requires processing untrusted Markdown with the AttributesExtension enabled; the injected script executes when the rendered HTML is viewed. Fixed in 2.9.1.
How severe is CVE-2026-86431?
CVE-2026-86431 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2026-86431 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (13th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-86431?
CVE-2026-86431 affects Thephpleague Commonmark. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-86431?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2026-86431 published?
CVE-2026-86431 was published on 2026-09-07 and last updated on 2026-09-09.

References

Affected products (1)

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