HtmlSanitizer has a bypass via template tag
Published Feb 4, 2026 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Original summary
Normalized public record · Updated Nov 3, 2026
HtmlSanitizer has a bypass via template tag
Publisher and source text is retained separately from QFinch interpretation.
QFinch assessment
If the `template` tag is allowed, its contents are not sanitized. The `template` tag is a special tag that does not usually render its contents, unless the `shadowrootmode` attribute is set to `open` or `closed`.
Potential impact
If the template tag is allowed, its contents are not sanitized. The template tag is a special tag that does not usually render its contents, unless the shadowrootmode attribute is set to open or closed. The lack of sanitization of the template tag brings up two bypasses: 1. it is still possible to forcibly render the contents of a <template> tag through mutation XSS. The DOM parsers in browsers such as Chromium have a node depth limit of 512 and tags which are beyond that depth are flattened. This in turn allows elements within <template> (which are not sanitized) to be effectively 'popped out'. An example would look like this: <div>[...]<template><script>alert('xss')</script> where [...] denotes at least another 509 opening <div> tags. 2. If in addition to the template tag, the shadowrootmode attribute is allowed through sanitizer.AllowedAttributes.Add("shadowrootmode");, the simple payload of <div><template shadowrootmode="open"><script>alert('xss')</script> would bypass the sanitizer. This is because such usage of <template> attaches a shadow root to its parent: <div>, and its contents will be rendered. Note that the default configuration is not affected because the template tag is disallowed by default.
Evidence: public source recordsAffected products
| Affected package, product or range | Fix status |
|---|---|
| Consult the referenced vendor advisory for affected versions. | Consult source advisory |
Matching a version is only one part of assessing exposure. QFinch has not assessed your environment on this public page.
Remediation
Apply the vendor-supported fixed release or mitigation, then verify the affected component is no longer reachable.
- Confirm the affected product and reachable code path exist in your environment.
- Apply the vendor-supported patch or mitigation from the primary advisory.
- Rescan the exact deployed revision and retain verification evidence.
Evidence coverage
- SSVC priority
- LOW
- Confidence
- Not available
- Aliases
- None reported
Scores appear only when corresponding evidence exists. Missing data is never interpreted as zero risk.
Sources and record history
- Security advisory ↗
- Patch commit ↗
- https://www.nuget.org/packages/HtmlSanitizer/9.0.892 ↗
- https://www.nuget.org/packages/HtmlSanitizer/9.1.893-beta ↗
Record history
Published Feb 4, 2026 · Last refreshed Nov 3, 2026