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Wagtail: Reflected XSS in dynamic image URL generator view

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Jun 15, 2026 in wagtail/wagtail • Updated Aug 20, 2026

Package

pip wagtail (pip)

Affected versions

>= 7.3, < 7.3.3
>= 7.4, < 7.4.2

Patched versions

7.3.3
7.4.2

Description

Impact

A reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists on the dynamic image URL generator view within the Wagtail admin interface. A user with a limited-permission editor account for the Wagtail admin could craft a URL that, when viewed by a user with higher privileges, could perform actions with that user's credentials. The vulnerability is present for all sites, even if they do not enable the dynamic image serve view. The vulnerability is not exploitable by an ordinary site visitor without access to the Wagtail admin.

Patches

Patched versions have been released as Wagtail 7.3.3 and 7.4.2.

Workarounds

For sites that cannot easily upgrade to a current supported version, the vulnerability can be patched by adding the following code to urls.py URL pattern declarations to override the vulnerable view. This disables the admin dynamic image preview functionality, while the public-facing dynamic image serve view still works.

from django.http import HttpResponseBadRequest
from django.urls import path
from wagtail.admin import urls as wagtailadmin_urls

def disabled_output(request, image_id):
    return HttpResponseBadRequest("", content_type="text/plain")

urlpatterns = [
    # Example where the CMS admin is at /admin/.
    # Add this before the Wagtail admin URLs registration, with the same sub-path.
    path("admin/images/<int:image_id>/generate_url/output/", disabled_output),
    path("admin/", include(wagtailadmin_urls)),
]

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Thibaud Colas (@thibaudcolas) for reporting this issue.

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

References

@gasman gasman published to wagtail/wagtail Jun 15, 2026
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jul 1, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Aug 20, 2026
Reviewed Aug 20, 2026
Last updated Aug 20, 2026

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(10th percentile)

Weaknesses

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2026-54263

GHSA ID

GHSA-23m2-mghx-vqmf

Source code

Credits

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