CVE-2026-73262 in Prowler
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
Prowler is a cloud security platform. Prior to 5.37.0, Prowler's HTML output formatter in prowler/lib/outputs/html/html.py inserted finding.resource_tags, assembled by unroll_dict and parse_html_string, into generated reports without HTML escaping, allowing a cloud principal who can modify a scanned resource tag to store HTML or JavaScript that executes when another user opens the report. This issue is fixed in version 5.37.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability resides in Prowler's HTML output formatting functionality where unescaped user-controllable data from resource tags gets directly embedded into generated reports. The flaw exists in the prowler/lib/outputs/html/html.py file where finding.resource_tags data is processed through unroll_dict and parse_html_string functions before being inserted into HTML templates without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. Attackers with privileges to modify scanned resource tags can inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes when other users open the security reports, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the lack of input validation and output sanitization in the report generation pipeline. When Prowler processes cloud resources and their associated metadata including tags, the tag values are directly incorporated into HTML content without proper HTML escaping or context-aware encoding. This creates an environment where malicious actors can inject script tags, event handlers, or other HTML constructs that get executed in the browser context of report viewers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to leverage legitimate scanning privileges to execute arbitrary code against users who open reports.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks as it provides a mechanism for attackers to establish persistent access vectors through security reports. An attacker who can modify resource tags in the cloud environment where Prowler operates can craft malicious tag values containing JavaScript payloads that execute whenever any user opens the corresponding report. This creates a potential attack surface where even users with read-only access to scanned resources could gain execution capabilities against other users who view their reports. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of security assessment data since attackers can manipulate both the content and execution environment of security reports.
The fix implemented in version 5.37.0 addresses this issue by ensuring that all user-provided data from resource tags undergoes proper HTML escaping before being inserted into generated reports. This remediation aligns with established security practices for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and follows the principle of least privilege in output handling. Organizations should ensure immediate deployment of version 5.37.0 or later to protect against this vulnerability that could allow attackers to compromise user sessions through maliciously crafted resource tags. The solution demonstrates proper input validation and output sanitization techniques that are essential for web applications processing untrusted data.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting and follows ATT&CK technique T1211 - Exploitation for Defense Evasion where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. The attack vector represents a privilege escalation path through resource tag manipulation, demonstrating how seemingly benign metadata can become weaponized in security tool outputs. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation across all user-controllable data elements in security reporting tools and maintain regular update cycles to address such vulnerabilities in cloud security platforms.