Executive brief
Trilium Notes is a cross-platform note-taking application. A flaw allows attackers to store malicious code in note icon labels that executes automatically when a user opens the quick search feature (Ctrl+J) or a new tab. Because the Electron desktop version does not isolate context and enables node integration, an attacker can execute arbitrary operating system commands with the victim's privileges.
Technical details
The vulnerability is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the getNoteIcon() function. The #iconClass label value is inserted without HTML attribute encoding into class attributes in quick_search.ts and note_autocomplete.ts. An attacker can inject a malicious payload into a note's icon class that will execute when the victim uses the quick search feature (Ctrl+J) or opens a new tab. The underlying issue is that Electron enables nodeIntegration and disables contextIsolation, allowing JavaScript to access Node.js APIs and execute system commands. No user interaction beyond opening the application is required. The vulnerability is fixed in version 0.103.0 by sanitizing icon class values.
Affected products
- TriliumNext Trilium prior to 0.103.0
Timeline
- 2026-08-18: disclosed
- 2026-05-13: patched: Fixed in version 0.103.0