What CVE-2024-6485 Means for Bootstrap 3.4.1 Security (and How to Patch It Fast)
A straightforward guide for developers and engineering teams navigating Bootstrap 3 vulnerabilities in modern security environments
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Security tools and audits are flagging CVE-2024-6485, a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Bootstrap 3.4.1’s Button component. If your application still relies on this widely-used version of Bootstrap, you’ve likely already seen it pop up in scan results.
Here’s what the vulnerability actually is—and the most efficient way to fix it without rewriting your UI or upgrading to Bootstrap 5.
What Is CVE-2024-6485?
CVE-2024-6485 is a cross-site scripting vulnerability that can occur when untrusted content is inserted into dynamic attributes like data-loading-text or data-complete-text in Bootstrap 3’s Button plugin.
Here’s a simplified example of what that could look like:
<button id="btnXss">Click</button>
<script>
$(function () {
$('#btnXss').click(function () {
var someUnsanitizedText = '<img src=x onerror=alert(1)>'
$(this).data('loadingText', someUnsanitizedText)
$(this).button('loading')
})
})
</script>
Why Is It Being Flagged?
Many modern security scanners and compliance tools—including Tenable, GitHub Advisory Database, Snyk, Red Hat, and Debian—have indexed CVE-2024-6485 as a medium-severity XSS vulnerability.
If your application includes Bootstrap 3.4.1 (or a bundled framework that does), automated scans will likely surface this CVE—even if you’re not directly using the vulnerable attributes.
What This Means for Your App
- Security audits may flag this issue as needing resolution
- Certain customers or vendors may require proof of mitigation
- Manual attempts to strip or sanitize content may still leave you exposed
You don’t need to panic. But you do need a plan.
Your Options: Upgrade, Patch, or Work Around It
Option 1: Upgrade to Bootstrap 5
This path offers long-term support and improved architecture—but comes with major refactoring for most production apps.
Option 2: Manually sanitize all dynamic content
Feasible in theory, but difficult to guarantee complete coverage—especially in legacy or modular codebases.
Option 3: Apply a drop-in patched version
This is the most efficient option for teams looking to stay secure and compliant without breaking UI functionality.
What We’ve Done at HeroDevs
HeroDevs offers Never-Ending Support (NES) for Bootstrap 3.4.1. That means:
- Backported patches for CVE-2024-6485 and other known vulnerabilities
- Drop-in compatibility with your current codebase
- Maintained by experts who know Bootstrap from the inside out
If your scan results or audit flagged this CVE, our support path is ready and waiting.
Quick Check: Are You Affected?
Search your codebase for 3.4.1:
HTML <script> Tags
<script src="bootstrap.min.js?v=3.4.1"></script>
CDN Example
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@3.4.1/dist/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
Package Manager Example
A package.json file containing
"dependencies": {
....
"bootstrap": "^3.4.1"
....
}
Then check if any buttons or components use data-loading-text or any data-*-text attributes that may render dynamic input.
If yes—you’re likely exposed.
FAQ
Is CVE-2024-6485 patched in Bootstrap 3?
Not in the original repository. HeroDevs provides a secure backported version through NES.
Is Bootstrap 3.4.1 still supported?
Official support has ended. NES by HeroDevs offers continued patching and compliance coverage.
Can I fix this without upgrading to Bootstrap 5?
Yes. NES provides a direct patch for Bootstrap 3.4.1.
The Bottom Line
CVE-2024-6485 is showing up in scans, triggering audits, and putting pressure on teams still relying on Bootstrap 3. You don’t need a total front-end overhaul—but you do need to respond.
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