CVE-2016-10537: Cross-Site Scripting in backbone
Summary
CVE-2016-10537: Cross-Site Scripting in backbone. Affects backbone versions < 0.5.0. Fixed in 0.5.0. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- backbone · Debian:11
The same CVE-2016-10537 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The backbone package is an open-source JavaScript library that provides a framework for building single-page applications. It offers a set of models, views, and collections to simplify the development process. However, versions prior to 0.5.0 are vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack when user input is allowed in the Model#Escape function and the output is subsequently written to the DOM.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the inadequate handling of HTML Entities in the regular expression used to encode metacharacters. This oversight allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary scripts into the application, potentially leading to the execution of unauthorized code or the theft of sensitive information. The impact of this vulnerability can range from defacement of the application to the compromise of user credentials.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 1.6.1 as of 22 Oct 2026
npm install backbone@1.6.1Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
0.5.0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
npm install backbone@0.5.0Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If an immediate update is not feasible, a temporary workaround is to manually sanitize user input before passing it to the Model#Escape function. This can be achieved by using a library or function specifically designed for HTML entity encoding, such as he or lodash.escape.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the backbone package prior to version 0.5.0 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. It is crucial to update to the latest version or apply input sanitization to prevent potential exploitation. For further assistance or support in addressing this vulnerability, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for backbone →
FAQ
The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution or the theft of sensitive information.
Updating to version 0.5.0 or later of the backbone package is the recommended mitigation. Additionally, input sanitization can be performed to prevent the injection of malicious scripts.
While specific exploits for this vulnerability have not been disclosed, XSS vulnerabilities are commonly targeted by attackers. It is crucial to address this issue promptly to prevent potential attacks.
Yes, there are several libraries available for HTML entity encoding and input sanitization. Some popular options include DOMPurify, xss-filters, and sanitize-html.
Yes, you can refer to the GitHub Advisory Database for more information and the specific details of this vulnerability.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for backbone.
