CVE-2026-73031 in telegram-search
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
telegram-search contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in victims' browsers by sending crafted messages containing unsanitized HTML to a shared Telegram group. The highlightKeyword function in MessageList.vue passes raw message content directly to v-html without HTML escaping or sanitization, enabling stored, cross-user, zero-click execution of injected payloads such as image onerror handlers when victims browse or search messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw in the telegram-search application that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within victims' browsers through manipulated message content. The security weakness stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization practices within the application's frontend processing pipeline, specifically affecting the highlightKeyword function implemented in MessageList.vue component. The vulnerability operates as a stored XSS attack because malicious payloads are persisted within the application's message storage system rather than requiring immediate interaction with a vulnerable page.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the highlightKeyword function processes user-generated content and directly injects raw message data into the v-html directive without proper HTML escaping or sanitization measures. This approach violates fundamental security principles for handling untrusted input and creates an attack surface where malicious actors can embed JavaScript payloads within Telegram group messages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables zero-click execution when victims browse or search through messages containing crafted payloads, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and user account compromise. When victims encounter messages containing injected payloads such as image onerror handlers, the malicious JavaScript executes automatically within their browser context without requiring any user interaction beyond normal message viewing. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly effective for mass exploitation within shared Telegram groups where multiple users may be exposed to the same malicious content.
From a security standards perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing with Social Engineering, as attackers can craft convincing messages that appear legitimate while containing malicious payloads. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that should be addressed through proper content sanitization libraries and secure coding practices. Organizations using this application face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise when users encounter maliciously crafted messages within shared groups.
Effective mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive HTML sanitization before rendering user-generated content, utilizing dedicated libraries such as DOMPurify to strip dangerous elements from input, and adopting a principle of least privilege in frontend data handling. The application should also implement proper content security policies and sanitize all user inputs through multiple validation layers including client-side and server-side checks. Regular security audits and code reviews focused on input handling practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual message patterns may help detect and respond to exploitation attempts more effectively.