Summary
Novu has a XSS sanitization bypass
Impact
This may look like a Self-XSS similar to https://github.com/novuhq/novu/security/advisories/GHSA-w8vm-jx29-52fr, but it can be more impactful. First of all, if multiple users can access this dashboard, the link above can directly bring the to the email step editor to trigger the XSS.
An attacker can also use the Google/GitHub OAuth flows without completing the code callback step, and send that URL to the victim to intentionally log the vicitm into the attacker's account. If the attacker has prepared an XSS payload there, they will now be allowed to view it, so it triggers.
Untrusted input is rendered as active markup in a victim's browser, which can run script in their session. Typical impact: session or credential theft, and actions taken as the user.
GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (High). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and user interaction required. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (3.15.0); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495? GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495 is a high-severity cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in novu/api (npm), affecting versions < 3.15.0. It is fixed in 3.15.0. Untrusted input is rendered as active markup in a victim's browser, which can run script in their session.
- How severe is GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495? GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495 has a CVSS score of 8.1 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of novu/api are affected by GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495? novu/api (npm) versions < 3.15.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495? Yes. GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495 is fixed in 3.15.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix GHSA-26WG-9XF2-Q495? Upgrade
novu/apito 3.15.0 or later.