# CVE-2022-21649: Stored XSS via attribute in convos

> Attackers can execute malicious scripts in Convos chat via stored XSS in link attributes, requiring users to upgrade immediately.

- **Severity:** High 7.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/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:** 4 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 22 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xmpj-xwm3-vww7

## What is CVE-2022-21649?

CVE-2022-21649 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in convos-chat convos, published on 4 Jan 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Convos is an open source multi-user chat that runs in a web browser. Characters starting with "https://" in the chat window create an <a> tag. Stored XSS vulnerability using onfocus and autofocus occurs because escaping exists for "<" or ">" but escaping for double quotes does not exist. Through this vulnerability, an attacker is capable to execute malicious scripts. Users are advised to update as soon as possible.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-21649?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Convos Convos.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-21649?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-21649 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-21649 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-21649 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in convos-chat convos

- [CVE-2022-21650](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21650/): Stored XSS via html file upload in convos (high 7.6)
- [CVE-2021-42584](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42584/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2020-14423](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14423/): Weak cryptography in n/a (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-21649 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-21649 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in convos-chat convos, published on 4 Jan 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-21649 exists.

Affected product: convos-chat convos. 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-2022-21649/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21649/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-21649
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21649
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-21649

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21649/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.