# CVE-2021-21616: Stored XSS vulnerability in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin

> Attackers with Job/Configure permission can inject malicious scripts via unescaped reference parameters, leading to stored XSS in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/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:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Feb 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4f6x-g5vh-8jm5

## What is CVE-2021-21616?

CVE-2021-21616 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin, published on 24 Feb 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

Jenkins Active Choices Plugin 2.5.2 and earlier does not escape reference parameter values, resulting in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exploitable by attackers with Job/Configure permission.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-21616?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.biouno:uno-choice. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.biouno:uno-choice` | Maven | All versions | 2.5.3 |
| `org.biouno:uno-choice` | Maven | All versions | 2.5.3 |

Products: Jenkins Active Choices.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-21616?

Upgrade org.biouno:uno-choice to 2.5.3 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-21616 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21616 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin

- [CVE-2021-21699](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21699/): Stored XSS vulnerability in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2020-2289](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-2289/): Stored XSS vulnerability in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2020-2290](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-2290/): Stored XSS vulnerability in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2017-1000386](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000386/): Cross-site Scripting in Jenkins Active Choices plugin (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-21616 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-21616 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Jenkins Active Choices Plugin, published on 24 Feb 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-2021-21616 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.biouno:uno-choice (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3
- org.biouno:uno-choice (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3

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-2021-21616/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21616/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-21616
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21616
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-21616

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21616/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.