MapServer: Reflected XSS in OpenLayers HTML Output via `HTTP_X_FORWARDED_HOST`

MapServer is a system for developing web-based GIS applications. From 6.0 until 8.6.4, MapServer's OpenLayers HTML output for SERVICE=WMS&REQUEST=GetMap&FORMAT=application/openlayers reflects an attacker-controlled X-Forwarded-Host value received as HTTP_X_FORWARDED_HOST through msBuildOnlineResource(), processLine(), and the [mapserv_onlineresource] substitution in src/maputil.c and src/maptemplate.c without escaping it for a single-quoted JavaScript string. When the deployment trusts the forwarded header and does not configure a fixed ows_onlineresource or MS_ONLINERESOURCE value, embedded single quotes can escape the generated URL string. An unauthenticated attacker can craft a URL that executes arbitrary JavaScript in the MapServer site origin when opened by a victim, enabling access to sessions or tokens, same-origin data and requests, and actions as the victim. This issue is fixed in version 8.6.4.

Source published

17 Sep 2026 20:24:32 UTC

Source modified

24 Sep 2026 20:45:56 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

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CVSS 4.0 · 5.3 CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N