CVE-2026-120497 in aidlc-traceability
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
Stored cross-site scripting (XSS) in the HTML report generator in the aidlc-traceability CLI in AWS AI-DLC Workflows before 2026-07-03 might allow an actor who can modify a project's AI-DLC artifact files to execute arbitrary script in the browser of a user who opens a generated HTML traceability report via crafted artifact titles or descriptions.
To remediate this issue, users should remove any local copy of the aidlc-traceability CLI obtained before 2026-07-03, or update it to commit 96cf0ea or later. The CLI was removed from the repository on 2026-07-16.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The vulnerability identified in AWS AI-DLC Workflows represents a classic instance of stored cross-site scripting within an internal tooling component, specifically the aidlc-traceability command-line interface prior to version dated July 3, 2026. This security flaw resides within the HTML report generator module, which is responsible for rendering traceability data into human-readable formats for project stakeholders and developers. The core technical deficiency stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied metadata fields when they are embedded into dynamically generated HTML documents. Specifically, artifact titles and descriptions provided by users during the creation or modification of AI-DLC artifacts are not adequately escaped before being inserted into the report template. This oversight allows an attacker who possesses write access to project artifacts to inject malicious JavaScript payloads directly into these text fields.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation as cross-site scripting. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it relies on stored persistence rather than reflected injection. An adversary does not need to trick a user into clicking a malicious link in real-time; instead, they simply modify an artifact's metadata within the AWS AI-DLC environment. When another authorized user subsequently opens the generated HTML traceability report through their web browser, the embedded script executes automatically within the context of that session. This execution occurs under the trust relationship between the browser and the internal reporting tool, potentially allowing the malicious code to access sensitive cookies, local storage tokens, or other session-specific data associated with the AWS console or related services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple defacement or alert boxes. Because the script executes in the context of a trusted application interface used for managing AI development lifecycles, an attacker could perform actions on behalf of the victim user without their knowledge. This includes exfiltrating sensitive project data, manipulating traceability records to obscure malicious changes made to model artifacts, or potentially using the compromised session as a pivot point for further lateral movement within the organization's cloud infrastructure. The severity is amplified by the fact that AI-DLC workflows often involve high-privilege accounts and access to critical intellectual property related to machine learning models and training datasets.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers JavaScript execution via web browsers, specifically within the context of stored persistence mechanisms that facilitate long-term reconnaissance or data exfiltration. The attacker leverages the legitimate functionality of the traceability report generator to maintain a foothold and gather intelligence on project structures and personnel interactions without triggering immediate security alerts associated with external malicious links.
To remediate this issue effectively, organizations must ensure that all instances of the aidlc-traceability CLI are updated or removed immediately. The recommended course of action is to uninstall any local copy of the tool obtained before July 3, 2026, and replace it with a version containing commit hash 96cf0ea or later, which includes the necessary input sanitization patches. Furthermore, since AWS has officially deprecated this CLI by removing it from their repository as of July 16, 2026, teams should transition to supported alternatives for generating traceability reports. It is also advisable to implement strict Content Security Policy headers in any internal web applications that render user-generated content to mitigate the impact of similar vulnerabilities in other tools within the ecosystem. Regular audits of artifact metadata and enforcement of least-privilege access controls will further reduce the risk surface associated with stored XSS attacks in development workflows.