CVE-2026-120488 in LaraDashboard
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
LaraDashboard before 1.4.9 contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated users with post.create or post.edit permission to inject scripts via unsanitized LaraBuilder design_json block content. Attackers can save text-editor, HTML, text or heading blocks containing script or event-handler markup that executes in administrator or Superadmin sessions viewing the builder, preview or page.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified in LaraDashboard versions prior to 1.4.9 represents a significant security flaw rooted in insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within its content management interface. Specifically, this is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that affects the LaraBuilder component responsible for rendering design_json block contents. The core technical issue lies in the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data when it is saved into the database via post.create or post.edit permissions. When an authenticated user with these specific privileges submits content containing HTML, text-editor blocks, headings, or other rich media elements, the system accepts and stores raw script tags and event-handler attributes without adequate filtering or encoding. This lack of sanitization allows malicious actors to embed executable JavaScript code directly into the stored data structure, which is then rendered by the browser when an administrator views the page in builder mode, preview mode, or on the live site itself.
From a technical perspective, this flaw exploits the trust relationship between the application and its authenticated users who possess content creation rights. Because the vulnerability is classified as stored XSS, also known as persistent XSS, the malicious payload does not require immediate interaction with an attacker-controlled link to be triggered; instead, it resides on the target server's database. Consequently, every time a privileged user, such as an administrator or Superadmin, accesses any page that utilizes this compromised content block, their browser executes the injected script within the context of their session. This execution occurs in a high-privilege environment where the victim typically has access to sensitive administrative functions, configuration settings, and potentially other users' data. The attack vector relies on the attacker crafting specific HTML or JavaScript payloads that bypass any basic client-side validation checks present in the text editor interface before submission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the privilege level required for exploitation versus the ease with which it can be triggered by lower-privileged content creators. An attacker who gains access to an account with post.create or post.edit permissions can effectively hijack administrative sessions. This session hijacking enables a range of malicious activities including stealing administrator cookies and authentication tokens, performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the admin such as modifying site configurations or deleting data, defacing the website by altering its visual presentation through DOM manipulation, and potentially redirecting users to phishing sites designed to steal credentials from other visitors. The persistence of the payload means that even if the initial attacker is logged out, subsequent visits by administrators will continue to trigger the malicious script until the compromised content block is identified and removed or sanitized.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation commonly known as Cross-site Scripting in industry standards. It also maps closely to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Control via Application Layer Protocol, specifically the sub-technique involving web browsers for executing arbitrary code within a trusted context. Furthermore, it relates to CWE-642 Improper Trust Check which highlights the failure of the application to verify that user input is safe before processing or storing it. The exploitation chain typically involves initial access through valid credentials with limited privileges, followed by privilege escalation via session manipulation once the stored payload executes in an admin's browser context.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Administrators should immediately upgrade LaraDashboard to version 1.4.9 or later where this issue has been addressed through enhanced input validation and output encoding protocols. For systems that cannot be updated instantly, manual review of all existing posts is necessary to identify and remove any blocks containing suspicious script tags or event handlers such as onerror, onload, or onclick attributes within the design_json content. Implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can also help mitigate the impact by restricting the sources from which scripts are allowed to execute, thereby preventing inline scripts from running even if they are injected into the DOM. Additionally, developers should enforce strict server-side sanitization of all user inputs regardless of client-side validation and utilize context-aware output encoding when rendering data in HTML contexts to ensure that special characters are converted to their corresponding entity equivalents before being sent to the browser.