CVE-2022-0278 in Microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 01/20/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in Packagist microweber/microweber prior to 1.2.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-0278 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw in the Packagist microweber/microweber package prior to version 1.2.11. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications and then executed in the context of other users' browsers. The issue manifests in a stored XSS scenario, meaning that the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and subsequently delivered to users when they access the affected application.
The technical flaw occurs within the microweber content management system where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web pages. When attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields or parameters that are then stored in the application's database, any user who views the affected content becomes vulnerable to the stored script execution. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because the malicious code persists and executes automatically whenever users interact with the compromised content, making it a persistent threat rather than a one-time exploitation vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code in the victim's browser context, leading to complete compromise of user sessions, data exfiltration, or even redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack can affect multiple users over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for content management systems that handle user-generated content, as the attack surface expands with each user contribution. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of affected microweber installations, creating a widespread security risk that could be exploited by threat actors with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0278 should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.2.11 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious script injection, following the principle of least privilege in application design. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all user input handling mechanisms and implementation of proper sanitization routines. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in user content submission and to verify that all application components are running patched versions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to add defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566, which covers social engineering techniques including the use of malicious code in web applications, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations.