# CVE-2026-113661: sanitize-html incomplete : meta refresh URL scheme bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113661-apostrophecms-incomplete-meta-http-equiv-refresh-content-still  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-20. Updated: 2026-10-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-113661 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.4 · Published 2026-10-20

sanitize-html is a library that removes malicious HTML and scripts from user-supplied content. When misconfigured to allow the `meta` tag with `content` attributes, the library fails to block dangerous URL schemes (like `javascript:` and `data:`) embedded in meta refresh directives. An attacker can inject code that steals data or redirects users when their browsers render the page.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-113661 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-113661 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-113661?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.4, published 20 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Joshwlewis Sanitize-Html 2.17.7 and earlier; sanitize-html (npm) < 2.18.0, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=2.18.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-113661?** Yes. sanitize-html (npm): upgrade to 2.18.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-113661 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-113661?** Check whether you run Joshwlewis Sanitize-Html or sanitize-html (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.

## How to fix

- sanitize-html (npm): upgrade to 2.18.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install sanitize-html@2.18.0
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability is a bypass of the `naughtyHref()` scheme validator introduced in CVE-2026-53606. That fix validates URL attributes against `allowedSchemes`, but nested URLs within meta `http-equiv="refresh" content="0;url=..."` are not recognized as an attribute name in the `allowedSchemesAppliedToAttributes` list, so the embedded destination URL is never checked. An attacker can embed `javascript:` or `data:` URLs to trigger XSS or redirect to arbitrary HTTPS sites if `allowedSchemes` permits HTTP(S). The fix requires parsing the `; url=` destination when `http-equiv` equals `refresh` (case-insensitive) and validating it through `naughtyHref()`.

## Affected products

- joshwlewis sanitize-html 2.17.7 and earlier

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-113661
- GHSA-cv27-6wvh-8x7j

## Timeline

- 2026-10-20: disclosed
- 2026-10-20: advisory

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- [sanitize-html noscript XSS bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113654-apostrophecms-is-an-open-source-node-js-content-management)
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- [sanitize-html XSS bypass via textarea solidus close tag](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63670-sanitize-html-xss-bypass-via-textarea-solidus-close-tag)