# CVE-2021-41169: Improper Neutralization HTML tags in sulu/sulu

> Stored XSS in Sulu CMS allows attackers to inject malicious scripts via unsanitized HTML in tag names, potentially leading to session hijacking or code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Oct 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h58v-g3q6-q9fx

## What is CVE-2021-41169?

CVE-2021-41169 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in sulu, published on 21 Oct 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Sulu is an open-source PHP content management system based on the Symfony framework. In versions before 1.6.43 are subject to stored cross site scripting attacks. HTML input into Tag names is not properly sanitized. Only admin users are allowed to create tags. Users are advised to upgrade.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-41169?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `sulu/sulu` | Packagist | All versions | 1.6.43 |
| `sulu/sulu` | Packagist | All versions | 1.6.43 |

Products: Sulu Sulu.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-41169?

Upgrade sulu/sulu to 1.6.43 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-41169 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-41169 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in sulu

- [CVE-2021-43836](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43836/): PHP file inclusion in the Sulu admin panel (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2021-32737](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32737/): XSS Injection in Media Collection Title was possible (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2021-43835](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43835/): Privilege escalation in the Sulu Admin panel (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2024-27915](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-27915/): Sulu grants access to pages regardless of role permissions (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2024-47617](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47617/): Reflected XSS Vulnerability in Sulu Media Bundle (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-41169 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-41169 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in sulu, published on 21 Oct 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-41169 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- sulu/sulu (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.6.43
- sulu/sulu (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.6.43

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-2021-41169/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41169/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-41169
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41169
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-41169

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41169/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.