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Loofah: SVG `href` attribute bypasses local-reference restriction

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jul 15, 2026 in flavorjones/loofah • Updated Jul 21, 2026

Package

bundler loofah (RubyGems)

Affected versions

< 2.25.2

Patched versions

2.25.2

Description

Summary

Loofah's HTML5 sanitizer restricted only the xlink:href attribute on certain SVG elements to local, same-document references. Browsers also accept a plain href attribute as an alternative to the deprecated xlink:href per the SVG 2 spec, but Loofah did not apply the same restriction to it, allowing those elements to reference arbitrary external documents.

Impact

SVG <use> can load and render external SVG content by reference. If the referenced external SVG is same-origin and contains scripts or other dangerous content, it could execute in the context of the sanitized document. <feImage> can load external images, which can be used for tracking. Modern browsers restrict cross-origin <use> fetches, which limits but does not eliminate the risk.

Applications that sanitize user-supplied SVG (directly, or as part of HTML) with Loofah's default allowlist are affected.

Mitigation

Upgrade to Loofah >= 2.25.2.

Credit

Found by the maintainer, Mike Dalessio, during a security audit.

References

@flavorjones flavorjones published to flavorjones/loofah Jul 15, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Jul 21, 2026
Reviewed Jul 21, 2026
Last updated Jul 21, 2026

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

EPSS score

Weaknesses

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

No known CVE

GHSA ID

GHSA-9wjq-cp2p-hrgf

Source code

Credits

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