# CVE-2021-41184: jQuery UI XSS in position() method

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-41184-jquery-ui-xss-in-position-method  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-10-26. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-41184 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2021-10-26

jQuery UI is a popular JavaScript library providing interactive widgets and utilities for web applications. A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the `.position()` utility function allows arbitrary JavaScript code execution when the `of` parameter accepts untrusted input, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive data, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of affected users.

Technologies: [org.webjars.npm:jquery-ui (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/org-webjars-npm-jquery-ui), [jquery-ui (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/jquery-ui), [jQuery.UI.Combined (NuGet)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/jquery-ui-combined), [jquery-ui-rails (RubyGems)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/jquery-ui-rails). Vendors: [Maven](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/maven), [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm), [NuGet](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/nuget), [RubyGems](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rubygems).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-41184 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2021-41184 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2021-41184?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 26 October 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** org.webjars.npm:jquery-ui (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.13.0; jquery-ui (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.13.0; jQuery.UI.Combined (NuGet) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.13.0; jquery-ui-rails (RubyGems) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=7.0.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-41184?** Yes. org.webjars.npm:jquery-ui (Maven): upgrade to 1.13.0 or later; jquery-ui (npm): upgrade to 1.13.0 or later; jQuery.UI.Combined (NuGet): upgrade to 1.13.0 or later; jquery-ui-rails (RubyGems): upgrade to 7.0.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2021-41184 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-41184?** Check whether you run org.webjars.npm:jquery-ui (Maven), jquery-ui (npm), jQuery.UI.Combined (NuGet) or one of the others listed 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.

## How to fix

- org.webjars.npm:jquery-ui (Maven): upgrade to 1.13.0 or later

  ```sh
  # set org.webjars.npm:jquery-ui to 1.13.0 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- jquery-ui (npm): upgrade to 1.13.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install jquery-ui@1.13.0
  ```

- jQuery.UI.Combined (NuGet): upgrade to 1.13.0 or later

  ```sh
  dotnet add package jQuery.UI.Combined --version 1.13.0
  ```

- jquery-ui-rails (RubyGems): upgrade to 7.0.0 or later

  ```sh
  bundle update jquery-ui-rails
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability is a DOM-based cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the `.position()` utility function of jQuery UI. The root cause is that string values passed to the `of` option were not properly sanitized, allowing attackers to inject malicious HTML/JavaScript. An attacker can craft a malicious string containing HTML tags with event handlers (e.g., `<img onerror='doEvilThing()' />`) and supply it as the `of` parameter; when processed, the injected code executes in the user's browser context. The vulnerability requires the application to accept user-controlled input for the `of` parameter. The fix, released in jQuery UI 1.13.0, treats all string values passed to `of` as CSS selectors, preventing HTML injection.

## Affected products

- jQuery Foundation jQuery UI before 1.13.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2021-41184
- GHSA-gpqq-952q-5327

## Timeline

- 2021-10-25: disclosed: Advisory published
- 2021-10-26: patched: jQuery UI 1.13.0 released with fix

## References

- [https://github.com/jquery/jquery-ui/security/advisories/GHSA-gpqq-952q-5327](https://github.com/jquery/jquery-ui/security/advisories/GHSA-gpqq-952q-5327)

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