8.2
HIGH CVSS 3.1
CVE-2026-86016
VNote: Stored XSS via YAML Frontmatter Leading to Local File Read and Remote Exfiltration
Description

VNote is a note-taking platform. Prior to 4.3.0, VNote uses the assignment `preNode.innerHTML = p_metaData` in src/data/extra/web/js/markdownit.js to insert YAML frontmatter metadata into a pre element before the protectFromXss sanitization path runs. Opening an attacker-supplied Markdown note can therefore execute stored JavaScript in the file:// viewer context. Because QWebEngineSettings::LocalContentCanAccessRemoteUrls enables local content to access remote URLs, the script can read reachable local note files and transmit their contents to a remote server without further interaction after the note is opened. This issue is fixed in version 4.3.0.

INFO

Published Date :

Oct. 13, 2026, 8:18 p.m.

Last Modified :

Oct. 13, 2026, 8:18 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

Yes !
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-86016 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Vnote_project vnote
1 Vnotex vnote
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 3.1 HIGH MITRE-CVE
CVSS 3.1 HIGH [email protected]
Solution
Update VNote to version 4.3.0 or later to fix stored JavaScript execution.
  • Update VNote to version 4.3.0 or later.
  • Review and sanitize all user-supplied content.
  • Disable local content accessing remote URLs.
  • Restrict file:// viewer context access.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2026-86016.

URL Resource
https://github.com/vnotex/vnote/commit/7371efde531312eb24beb982fb5fdd73469cb171
https://github.com/vnotex/vnote/releases/tag/v4.3.0
https://github.com/vnotex/vnote/security/advisories/GHSA-vfhj-c636-h59x
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-86016 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-86016 weaknesses.

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2026-86016 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-86016 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • New CVE Received by [email protected]

    Oct. 13, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Description VNote is a note-taking platform. Prior to 4.3.0, VNote uses the assignment `preNode.innerHTML = p_metaData` in src/data/extra/web/js/markdownit.js to insert YAML frontmatter metadata into a pre element before the protectFromXss sanitization path runs. Opening an attacker-supplied Markdown note can therefore execute stored JavaScript in the file:// viewer context. Because QWebEngineSettings::LocalContentCanAccessRemoteUrls enables local content to access remote URLs, the script can read reachable local note files and transmit their contents to a remote server without further interaction after the note is opened. This issue is fixed in version 4.3.0.
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
    Added CWE CWE-79
    Added Affected New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/86xxx/CVE-2026-86016.json">CVE-2026-86016</a>
    Added Reference https://github.com/vnotex/vnote/commit/7371efde531312eb24beb982fb5fdd73469cb171
    Added Reference https://github.com/vnotex/vnote/releases/tag/v4.3.0
    Added Reference https://github.com/vnotex/vnote/security/advisories/GHSA-vfhj-c636-h59x
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.