CVE-2026-85485 HTML::FormHandler versions before 0.410002 for Perl render some error messages into HTML without escaping
Attacker can inject JavaScript via unescaped error messages in specific HTML::FormHandler layouts, leading to cross-site scripting.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-85485?
CVE-2026-85485 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability, published on 8 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
HTML::FormHandler versions before 0.410002 for Perl render some error messages into HTML without escaping.
The Table form layout and the Bootstrap 2 and 3 wrappers splice each error string straight into the surrounding markup. Version 0.410000, the fix for CVE-2026-19872, escaped the equivalent values in the other layouts and wrappers, and 0.410002 extended that to these three.
Error messages that contain attacker-influenced content such as rejected field values could embed JavaScript in rendered pages.
Weakness: CWE-79
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-85485?
How do I fix CVE-2026-85485?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Escape output for the context it lands in and set a strict Content Security Policy. Upgrading the affected component is the real fix. More about Cross-site scripting.
Is CVE-2026-85485 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-85485 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-85485, GHSA-m5h3-w9r6-p935, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-85485.