# CVE-2021-29489: Options structure open to XSS if passed unfiltered

> Unfiltered chart options in Highcharts allow attackers to execute arbitrary code in the user's browser via cross-site scripting.

- **Severity:** High 7.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 5 May 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** CLSA-2026-1782867610, CLSA-2026-1782867614, CLSA-2026-1782867617, CLSA-2026-1782867618, CLSA-2026-1782867619, CLSA-2026-1782954029, GHSA-8j65-4pcq-xq95

## What is CVE-2021-29489?

CVE-2021-29489 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Netapp Cloud Backup, published on 5 May 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Highcharts JS is a JavaScript charting library based on SVG. In Highcharts versions 8 and earlier, the chart options structure was not systematically filtered for XSS vectors. The potential impact was that content from untrusted sources could execute code in the end user's browser. The vulnerability is patched in version 9. As a workaround, implementers who are not able to upgrade may apply DOMPurify recursively to the options structure to filter out malicious markup.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-29489?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including highcharts. It affects 5 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `highcharts` | npm | All versions | 9.0.0 |
| `highcharts` | npm | All versions | 9.0.0 |

Products: Highcharts Highcharts, Netapp Cloud Backup, Netapp Oncommand Insight, Netapp Oncommand Workflow Automation, Netapp Snapcenter.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-29489?

Upgrade highcharts to 9.0.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-29489 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-29489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Netapp Cloud Backup

- [CVE-2018-20801](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20801/): Regular Expression Denial of Service in highcharts (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-29489 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-29489 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Netapp Cloud Backup, published on 5 May 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-29489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- highcharts (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 9.0.0
- highcharts (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 9.0.0

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-2021-29489/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29489/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-29489
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29489
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-29489

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29489/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.