CVE-2022-0159 in orchardcore
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
orchardcore is vulnerable to Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0159 affects the Orchard Core content management framework and represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that emerges during web page generation processes. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the platform's rendering pipeline, where user-supplied data is not properly escaped or filtered before being incorporated into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability resides in the framework's handling of user inputs that are subsequently displayed in web pages, creating an attack surface where malicious scripts can be injected and executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that contains script code, which is then processed through the Orchard Core framework's content generation mechanisms. When legitimate users view pages containing this malicious content, the embedded scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The flaw specifically manifests in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which is categorized under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist across multiple user sessions and affect various components of the web application.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0159 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges within the application context, particularly if the affected Orchard Core instance handles sensitive user data or administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the core rendering engine of the platform, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise any content that passes through the framework's content management system. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform session fixation attacks, steal cookies, or redirect users to phishing sites, potentially leading to complete compromise of user accounts and sensitive data exposure. The attack vector typically involves submitting malicious content through forms, comments, or content management interfaces that are subsequently rendered on public pages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Orchard Core application. Organizations should ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized and that appropriate HTML escaping is applied during content rendering processes. The framework should enforce strict content security policies and implement proper context-aware encoding for different output contexts such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be applied to maintain the latest protections against known vulnerabilities. This remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as the vulnerability enables attackers to establish persistent access through script injection attacks that can be used for further exploitation within the compromised environment.