CVE-2026-44541 in Fides
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2026
Fides is an open-source privacy engineering platform. From version 2.33.0 to before version 2.84.5, there is a DOM-based XSS vulnerability in fides.js via the fides_description override. This issue has been patched in version 2.84.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2026
The vulnerability in question affects Fides, an open-source privacy engineering platform that helps organizations manage data privacy compliance and user consent. This particular flaw exists in the client-side javascript component known as fides.js and represents a dom-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited through the fides_description override parameter. The vulnerability was present in versions 2.33.0 through 2.84.4, with the issue being resolved in version 2.84.5 through appropriate input sanitization and output encoding measures.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of user-supplied input within the fides.js client-side code. When the fides_description override parameter is processed, the application fails to adequately sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into the document object model. This allows an attacker to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is classified as dom-based because the malicious payload is executed entirely within the client-side environment without requiring server-side processing or database manipulation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where the attack payload is reflected in the DOM rather than in server responses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using Fides, as it could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the context of authenticated user sessions. An attacker could potentially steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, inject phishing content, or execute arbitrary javascript commands that could compromise user privacy settings and consent management. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in privacy engineering contexts where users may be interacting with sensitive data management interfaces, as it could allow unauthorized access to privacy controls and user data. This represents a critical security risk that could undermine the platform's core privacy protection capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to version 2.84.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout their javascript applications, particularly when handling user-supplied parameters. The fix implemented in version 2.84.5 likely involves proper escaping of the fides_description parameter before it is inserted into the DOM, following established secure coding practices that align with the OWASP Top Ten security requirements. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their client-side javascript components and implement content security policies to further reduce the attack surface and prevent potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in privacy-focused platforms where user trust and data protection are paramount considerations.