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CVE-2024-38527

Cross-site Scripting in ZenUML

5.4 MediumFix available

ZenUML is JavaScript-based diagramming tool that requires no server, using Markdown-inspired text definitions and a renderer to create and modify sequence diagrams. Markdown-based comments in the ZenUML diagram syntax are susceptible to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). The comment feature allows the user to attach small notes for reference. This feature allows the user to enter in their comment in markdown comment, allowing them to use common markdown features, such as ** for bolded text. However, the markdown text is currently not sanitized before rendering, allowing an attacker to enter a malicious payload for the comment which leads to XSS. This puts existing applications that use ZenUML unsandboxed at risk of arbitrary JavaScript execution when rendering user-controlled diagrams. This vulnerability was patched in version 3.23.25,

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

0.38%Up 0.3 points since Jun 27, 2024
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 5.4

Cross-site Scripting in ZenUML

ZenUML is JavaScript-based diagramming tool that requires no server, using Markdown-inspired text definitions and a renderer to create and modify sequence diagrams. Markdown-based comments in the ZenUML diagram syntax are susceptible to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). The comment feature allows the user to attach small notes for reference. This feature allows the user to enter in their comment in markdown comment, allowing them to use common markdown features, such as ** for bolded text. However, the markdown text is currently not sanitized before rendering, allowing an attacker to enter a malicious payload for the comment which leads to XSS. This puts existing applications that use ZenUML unsandboxed at risk of arbitrary JavaScript execution when rendering user-controlled diagrams. This vulnerability was patched in version 3.23.25,

Record
CVE-2024-38527
CVSS 3.1
5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-79
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2024-2136 5.4

ZenUML is JavaScript-based diagramming tool that requires no server, using Markdown-inspired text definitions and a renderer to create and modify sequence diagrams. Markdown-based comments in the ZenUML diagram syntax are susceptible to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). The comment feature allows the user to attach small notes for reference. This feature allows the user to enter in their comment in markdown comment, allowing them to use common markdown features, such as ** for bolded text. However, the markdown text is currently not sanitized before rendering, allowing an attacker to enter a malicious payload for the comment which leads to XSS. This puts existing applications that use ZenUML unsandboxed at risk of arbitrary JavaScript execution when rendering user-controlled diagrams. This vulnerability was patched in version 3.23.25,

Record
EUVD-2024-2136
CVSS 3.1
5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-q6xv-jm4v-349h 5.4

Cross-site Scripting in ZenUML

Summary

Markdown-based comments in the ZenUML diagram syntax are susceptible to Cross-site Scripting (XSS).

Details

The comment feature allows the user to attach small notes for reference. This feature allows the user to enter in their comment in markdown comment, allowing them to use common markdown features, such as ** for bolded text. However, the markdown text is currently not sanitized before rendering, allowing an attacker to enter a malicious payload for the comment which leads to XSS.

https://github.com/mermaid-js/zenuml-core/blob/dcfee8cde42673c09e19401f43ad8506658c8442/src/components/DiagramFrame/SeqDiagram/MessageLayer/Block/Statement/Comment/Comment.vue#L65

PoC

// p<img onerror=alert(1) src=""/>
A->B:hi

Above is a POC diagram payload that results in an XSS.

Here is a similar POC in mermaid.live: https://mermaid.live/edit#pako:eNpNjrFuwyAQhl8F3dRK1DaQGhs1kVq1Y6duFQsylwTVgEWw1MTyuxc5S7df39399y0wRIug4IZh9qMOdU2mF-dPJAZMKaa9GTHlB_ZILmnYa9BQH3R4fTq8qbMDCh6TN86WhkUHQjTkM3rUoEq0Jv2Ui7CWPTPn-HUNA6icZqQwT9ZkfHfmlIwHdTTjpVC0Lsf0eVfazChMJoBa4BdUL6uGC8n7TrCGd5zCFRRnXbVjvBVNK3gJXbtSuMVYSlnFC-Kyf961UshWbmXf2-y_xcf29c7WP2yrVC0

Impact

This puts existing applications that use ZenUML unsandboxed at risk of arbitrary JavaScript execution when rendering user-controlled diagrams.

Record
GHSA-q6xv-jm4v-349h
CVSS 3.1
5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-79, CWE-80
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 5.4

ZenUML is JavaScript-based diagramming tool that requires no server, using Markdown-inspired text definitions and a renderer to create and modify sequence diagrams. Markdown-based comments in the ZenUML diagram syntax are susceptible to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). The comment feature allows the user to attach small notes for reference. This feature allows the user to enter in their comment in markdown comment, allowing them to use common markdown features, such as ** for bolded text. However, the markdown text is currently not sanitized before rendering, allowing an attacker to enter a malicious payload for the comment which leads to XSS. This puts existing applications that use ZenUML unsandboxed at risk of arbitrary JavaScript execution when rendering user-controlled diagrams. This vulnerability was patched in version 3.23.25,

Record
CVE-2024-38527
CVSS 3.1
5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-79
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.4

Cross-site Scripting in ZenUML

ZenUML is JavaScript-based diagramming tool that requires no server, using Markdown-inspired text definitions and a renderer to create and modify sequence diagrams. Markdown-based comments in the ZenUML diagram syntax are susceptible to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). The comment feature allows the user to attach small notes for reference. This feature allows the user to enter in their comment in markdown comment, allowing them to use common markdown features, such as ** for bolded text. However, the markdown text is currently not sanitized before rendering, allowing an attacker to enter a malicious payload for the comment which leads to XSS. This puts existing applications that use ZenUML unsandboxed at risk of arbitrary JavaScript execution when rendering user-controlled diagrams. This vulnerability was patched in version 3.23.25,

Record
CVE-2024-38527
CVSS 3.1
5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-79
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-q6xv-jm4v-349h 5.4

Cross-site Scripting in ZenUML

Summary

Markdown-based comments in the ZenUML diagram syntax are susceptible to Cross-site Scripting (XSS).

Details

The comment feature allows the user to attach small notes for reference. This feature allows the user to enter in their comment in markdown comment, allowing them to use common markdown features, such as ** for bolded text. However, the markdown text is currently not sanitized before rendering, allowing an attacker to enter a malicious payload for the comment which leads to XSS.

https://github.com/mermaid-js/zenuml-core/blob/dcfee8cde42673c09e19401f43ad8506658c8442/src/components/DiagramFrame/SeqDiagram/MessageLayer/Block/Statement/Comment/Comment.vue#L65

PoC

// p<img onerror=alert(1) src=""/>
A->B:hi

Above is a POC diagram payload that results in an XSS.

Here is a similar POC in mermaid.live: https://mermaid.live/edit#pako:eNpNjrFuwyAQhl8F3dRK1DaQGhs1kVq1Y6duFQsylwTVgEWw1MTyuxc5S7df39399y0wRIug4IZh9qMOdU2mF-dPJAZMKaa9GTHlB_ZILmnYa9BQH3R4fTq8qbMDCh6TN86WhkUHQjTkM3rUoEq0Jv2Ui7CWPTPn-HUNA6icZqQwT9ZkfHfmlIwHdTTjpVC0Lsf0eVfazChMJoBa4BdUL6uGC8n7TrCGd5zCFRRnXbVjvBVNK3gJXbtSuMVYSlnFC-Kyf961UshWbmXf2-y_xcf29c7WP2yrVC0

Impact

This puts existing applications that use ZenUML unsandboxed at risk of arbitrary JavaScript execution when rendering user-controlled diagrams.

Record
GHSA-q6xv-jm4v-349h
CVSS 3.1
5.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-79, CWE-80
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
@zenuml/core
npm
before 3.23.25
3.23.25

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2024-38527 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.4) in Mermaid-js Zenuml-core, published June 26, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.38%, the 32nd percentile. Fixed in @zenuml/core 3.23.25.

References

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