Medium

lxml's HTML Cleaner allows crafted and SVG embedded scripts to pass through

  • Disclosed: 13.12.2021
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 13:19

Impact

The HTML Cleaner in lxml.html lets certain crafted script content pass through, as well as script content in SVG files embedded using data URIs.

Users that employ the HTML cleaner in a security relevant context should upgrade to lxml 4.6.5.

Patches

The issue has been resolved in lxml 4.6.5.

Workarounds

None.

References

The issues are tracked under the report IDs GHSL-2021-1037 and GHSL-2021-1038.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Python (PyPI) lxml < 4.6.5 4.6.5

References

CVSS score 8.2/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-74, CWE-79
Platform
Python (PyPI)
Package
lxml
Disclosed
13.12.2021
Updated
11.10.2026 13:19

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-852 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-55x5-fj6c-h6m8 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: lxml

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

Total entries
7
First → latest
05.2014 04.2026
Without a fix
0
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • High 1
  • Medium 6

Disclosures per year

  1. 2017: 0
  2. 2018: 1
  3. 2019: 0
  4. 2020: 1
  5. 2021: 2
  6. 2022: 1
  7. 2023: 0
  8. 2024: 0
  9. 2025: 0
  10. 2026: 1

earlier: 1

  1. lxml's HTML Cleaner allows crafted and SVG embedded scripts to pass through this entry
    Medium · 8.2 CVE-2021-43818 < 4.6.5 4.6.5
  2. Medium · 6.1 CVE-2021-28957 < 4.6.3 4.6.3
  3. Medium · 6.1 CVE-2020-27783 < 4.6.2 4.6.2
  4. Medium · 6.1 CVE-2018-19787 < 4.2.5 4.2.5

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