# CVE-2020-8288: Cross-site scripting in Rocket.Chat server

> An XSS vulnerability in Rocket.Chat server allows attackers to inject scripts via the value parameter, potentially leading to session hijacking or code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Jan 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q8vp-9pjp-8vc7

## What is CVE-2020-8288?

CVE-2020-8288 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Rocket.chat Rocket.chat, published on 21 Jan 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The `specializedRendering` function in Rocket.Chat server before 3.9.2 allows a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability by way of the `value` parameter.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-8288?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Rocket.chat Rocket.chat.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-8288?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-8288 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-8288 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-8288 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Rocket.chat Rocket.chat

- [CVE-2026-58066](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-58066/): Auth bypass in Rocket.Chat (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-29198](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-29198/): SQL injection in Rocket.Chat (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-28316](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28316/): Security feature bypass in Rocket.Chat (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-44567](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44567/): Command injection in Rocket.chat - Electron Desktop (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-22910](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22910/): Code injection in Rocket.Chat server (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-8288 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-8288 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Rocket.chat Rocket.chat, published on 21 Jan 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-8288 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Rocket.chat Rocket.chat. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2020-8288/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8288/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-8288
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-8288
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-8288

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8288/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.