Apache Wicket CVE-2026-76986: XSS via Unescaped Null Option 8.0-10.10
CVE-2026-76986 Published on August 31, 2026
Apache Wicket: XSS in AbstractSingleSelectChoice via getNullValidDisplayValue
Improper neutralization of input during web page generation in Apache Wicket.
org.apache.wicket.markup.html.form.AbstractSingleSelectChoice, the base class of DropDownChoice, writes the body of the default option the entry shown when no choice is selected into the markup as it is, while every other option body in the same select is escaped according to the escape-model-strings setting. The body comes from getNullValidDisplayValue() or getNullKeyDisplayValue(), both of which are protected, so what they return is not necessarily the plain text the default implementation reads from a resource bundle.
An application is affected where it overrides one of those methods and returns a value holding data an attacker can influence, or where its own nullValid or null bundle entry holds such a value. The bundles shipped with Wicket contain plain text. RadioChoice overrides getDefaultChoice to emit no default option and is not affected.
As a workaround, escape the value in the override.
This issue affects Apache Wicket: from 8.0.0 through 8.18.0, from 9.0.0 through 9.23.0, from 10.0.0 through 10.10.0. Older, unsupported releases from 1.5.0 onwards are also affected. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 8.19.0, 9.24.0 or 10.11.0, which fix the issue.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-76986 is exploitable with network access, requires user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have a small impact on confidentiality and integrity, and no impact on availability.
Weakness Type
What is a XSS Vulnerability?
The software does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.
CVE-2026-76986 has been classified to as a XSS vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-76986
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Affected Versions
Apache Software Foundation Apache Wicket:- Version 8.0.0, <= 8.18.0 is affected.
- Version 9.0.0, <= 9.23.0 is affected.
- Version 10.0.0, <= 10.10.0 is affected.