Mermaid: Improper sanitization of `classDefs` in diagrams leads to CSS injection
Details
The state diagram and any other diagram type that routes user-controlled style strings through createCssStyles parser for Mermaid v11.14.0 and earlier captures classDef values with an unrestricted regex:
// packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/state/parser/stateDiagram.jison:83
<CLASSDEFID>[^\n]* { this.popState(); return 'CLASSDEF_STYLEOPTS' }The value passes unsanitized through addStyleClass() -> createCssStyles() -> style.innerHTML (mermaidAPI.ts:418). A } in the value closes the generated CSS selector, and everything after becomes a new CSS rule on the page.
PoC
stateDiagram-v2
classDef x }*{ background-image: url("http://media.giphy.com/media/SggILpMXO7Xt6/giphy.gif")}Patches
This has been patched in:
- v11.15.0 (see e9b0f34d8d82a6260077764ee45e1d7d90957a0f)
- v10.9.6 (see 8fead23c59166b7bab6a39eac81acebee2859102)
Workarounds
Setting "securityLevel": "sandbox" will prevent this, by rendering the mermaid diagram in a sandboxed <iframe>.
Impact
Enables page defacement, user tracking via url() callbacks, and DOM attribute exfiltration via CSS :has() selectors.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | mermaid | >= 11.0.0-alpha.1, < 11.15.0, < 10.9.6 | 11.15.0, 10.9.6 |
References
- https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/security/advisories/GHSA-xcj9-5m2h-648r
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41148
- https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/commit/8fead23c59166b7bab6a39eac81acebee2859102
- https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/commit/e9b0f34d8d82a6260077764ee45e1d7d90957a0f
- https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid
- https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/releases/tag/mermaid%4011.15.0
- https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/releases/tag/v10.9.6
- https://mermaid.js.org/config/schema-docs/config.html#securitylevel
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-94- Platform
- npm
- Package
mermaid- Disclosed
- 11.05.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-xcj9-5m2h-648r - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: mermaid
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 16
- First → latest
- 09.2020 08.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 3
- Medium 12
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2020: 1
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 2
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 2
- 2026: 9
-
Mermaid: Improper sanitization of `classDefs` in diagrams leads to CSS injection this entry
Know which vulnerabilities affect your application
With the DockRay integration and software inventory enabled, DockRay checks reported component versions against known vulnerabilities and notifies you about confirmed matches. Coverage depends on the supported technology and available advisory data.