Description
MapServer is a system for developing web-based GIS applications. From 6.0 until 8.6.4, MapServer's OpenLayers HTML output for SERVICE=WMS&REQUEST=GetMap&FORMAT=application/openlayers reflects an attacker-controlled X-Forwarded-Host value received as HTTP_X_FORWARDED_HOST through msBuildOnlineResource(), processLine(), and the [mapserv_onlineresource] substitution in src/maputil.c and src/maptemplate.c without escaping it for a single-quoted JavaScript string. When the deployment trusts the forwarded header and does not configure a fixed ows_onlineresource or MS_ONLINERESOURCE value, embedded single quotes can escape the generated URL string. An unauthenticated attacker can craft a URL that executes arbitrary JavaScript in the MapServer site origin when opened by a victim, enabling access to sessions or tokens, same-origin data and requests, and actions as the victim. This issue is fixed in version 8.6.4.
References8
- github.com/MapServer/MapServer/commit/edc1033c7963fcffd160d85cf…
- github.com/MapServer/MapServer/commit/ff17ef190caaeaa9002ac3d1c…
- github.com/MapServer/MapServer/pull/7517
- github.com/MapServer/MapServer/pull/7518
- github.com/MapServer/MapServer/releases/tag/rel-8-6-4
- github.com/MapServer/MapServer/security/advisories/GHSA-xqj6-vj…
- mapserver.org/development/changelog/changelog-8-6.html#changelo…
- github.com/MapServer/MapServer/security/advisories/GHSA-xqj6-vj…
Metrics
- CVSS 4.0
-
5.3
MEDIUM
Score source: CNA
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - EPSS — exploit probability
- 0% percentile: 43 · as of 8 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-79
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.