Options structure open to Cross-site Scripting if passed unfiltered
Impact
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. Especially when using the useHTML flag, HTML string options would be inserted unfiltered directly into the DOM. When useHTML was false, malicious code could be inserted by using various character replacement tricks or malformed HTML.
If your chart configuration comes from a trusted source like a static setup or pre-filtered HTML (or no markup at all in the configuration), you are not impacted.
Patches
In version 9, the whole rendering layer was refactored to use an DOMParser, an AST and tag and HTML allow-listing to make sure only safe content entered the DOM. In addition, prototype pollution was stopped.
Workarounds
Implementers who are not able to upgrade may apply DOMPurify recursively to the options structure to filter out malicious markup.
References
- Details on the improved Highcharts security
- The AST and TextBuilder refactoring
- The fix for prototype pollution
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Visit our support page
- For more Email us at security@highcharts.com
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | highcharts | < 9.0.0 | 9.0.0 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-79- Platform
- npm
- Package
highcharts- Disclosed
- 06.05.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-8j65-4pcq-xq95 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: highcharts
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 3
- First → latest
- 03.2019 05.2021
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 3
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 1
- 2020: 1
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 0
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
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Options structure open to Cross-site Scripting if passed unfiltered this entry
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