GitHub Advisoryadvisory · npm
GHSA-qq9g-96v4-m3cj Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) via Select Schema Option Value Injection in @pdfme/schemas
MEDIUM
Official page ↗
- Ecosystem
- npm
- Packages
- @pdfme/schemas
- Severity
- Moderate
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
- Weaknesses
- CWE-79
- Reviewed
- 2026-03-18
Affected packages
• npm @pdfme/schemas: < 5.5.9 → fixed in 5.5.9
Description
Summary
The Select schema plugin in `@pdfme/schemas` constructs HTML from template-defined option values using unsanitized string interpolation and sets it via `innerHTML`, enabling arbitrary JavaScript execution.
Details
In `packages/schemas/src/select/index.ts`, lines 159-164, the Select schema's `ui` renderer builds `` elements by directly interpolating option values from the template into an HTML string:
```typescript
const options = Array.isArray(schema.options) ? schema.options : [];
selectElement.innerHTML = options
.map(
(option) =>
`${option}`,
)
.join('');
```
The `option` values come from `schema.options`, which is an array of strings defined in the template JSON. These values are interpolated directly into the HTML string without any escaping of ``, `"`, `&`, or other HTML-special characters. An option value containing `">` breaks out of the `value` attribute and allows injection of arbitrary HTML elements and event handlers.
Proof of Concept
Loading the following template into a pdfme Form or Designer component triggers JavaScript execution:
```json
{
"basePdf": { "width": 210, "height": 297, "padding": [20, 20, 20, 20] },
"schemas": [[
{
"name": "malicious_select",
"type": "select",
"content": "Normal",
"options": [
"Normal",
"\">"
],
"position": { "x": 20, "y": 20 },
"width": 80,
"height": 10
}
]]
}
```
The injected `` element executes JavaScript because it is parsed as HTML when assigned to `selectElement.innerHTML`.
Attack Vectors
The `options` array is defined in the template (not by form-filling end users). The attack requires a malicious template to be loaded, which can happen via:
1. File upload (e.g., "Load Template" functionality in applications)
2. Shared/imported templates in multi-tenant applications
3. Templates stored in databases without content sanitization
4. The `updateTemplate()` API being called with untrusted data
This vulnerability is triggered in Form mode (for non-readOnly select fields) and Designer mode when the select element is rendered.
Impact
An attacker who can supply a malicious template can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the browser of any user who views or interacts with the template. This enables:
• Session hijacking via cookie/token theft
• Keylogging of form input data
• Phishing and page modification
• Data exfiltration
Suggested Fix
Use DOM APIs to create option elements safely instead of string interpolation:
```typescript
options.forEach((option) => {
const optionEl = document.createElement('option');
optionEl.value = option;
optionEl.textContent = option;
if (option === value) optionEl.selected = true;
selectElement.appendChild(optionEl);
});
```
Alternatively, HTML-encode option values before interpolation:
```typescript
const escape = (s) => s.replace(/&/g, '&').replace(/"/g, '"').replace(//g, '>');
```
Related
Weakness · CWE (1)
- CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation weakness