# CVE-2014-9772: XSS Filter Bypass via Encoded URL in validator

> Remote attackers can bypass the XSS filter in the Node.js validator library by using hex-encoded characters, potentially allowing script injection.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-79mx-88w7-8f7q

## What is CVE-2014-9772?

CVE-2014-9772 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Nodejs Node.js, published on 23 Jan 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The validator package before 2.0.0 for Node.js allows remote attackers to bypass the cross-site scripting (XSS) filter via hex-encoded characters.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-9772?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including validator. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `validator` | npm | All versions | 2.0.0 |
| `validator` | npm | All versions | 2.0.0 |

Products: Nodejs Node.js.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-9772?

Upgrade validator to 2.0.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2014-9772 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-9772 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Nodejs Node.js

- [CVE-2023-32002](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32002/): Security feature bypass in Node (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-6303](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6303/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-15896](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15896/): Security feature bypass in Node.js (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2018-7160](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7160/): Server-side request forgery in Node.js (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-12120](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12120/): Misconfiguration in Node.js (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-9772 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-9772 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Nodejs Node.js, published on 23 Jan 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-9772 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- validator (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2.0.0
- validator (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 2.0.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9772/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9772/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-9772
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-9772
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-9772

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9772/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.