CVE-2022-0323 in mustache
Summary
by MITRE • 01/21/2022
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine in Packagist mustache/mustache prior to 2.14.1.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0323 represents a critical security flaw in the mustache template engine component of Packagist, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.14.1. This issue resides within the template engine's handling of special elements and demonstrates a failure in proper input sanitization that could lead to arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a widely used template engine that processes user-supplied data through mustache templating syntax, creating potential attack vectors that leverage the template engine's processing logic.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements within the mustache template engine implementation. When the engine processes template data containing specially crafted special characters or sequences, it fails to adequately sanitize or escape these elements before rendering them within the template context. This deficiency allows attackers to inject malicious template syntax that gets processed and executed by the template engine, potentially leading to remote code execution or data leakage. The flaw operates at the intersection of template injection and code execution vulnerabilities, where template engine logic becomes a vector for unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0323 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass broader security implications within software supply chain ecosystems. Since Packagist serves as a central repository for php packages and their dependencies, a vulnerability in its template engine could affect numerous applications that rely on packages hosted there. Attackers could exploit this weakness by creating malicious packages with specially crafted template content that would execute when the template engine processes package metadata or documentation. This creates a persistent threat vector that could compromise systems across multiple organizations depending on the affected packages.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-74 and CWE-94 categories, representing improper neutralization of special elements and code injection flaws respectively. From an attack framework perspective, it maps to ATT&CK techniques including T1059.001 for command and script injection and T1505.003 for server-side template injection. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases significantly when combined with other attack vectors such as package tampering or supply chain attacks where malicious actors could upload compromised packages containing the vulnerable template content. Organizations using Packagist or similar package management systems should prioritize immediate patching and monitoring for suspicious package uploads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0323 require both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to mustache/mustache version 2.14.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly neutralize special elements in template processing. Organizations should also implement package verification mechanisms including checksum validation and digital signatures to prevent unauthorized package modifications. Additionally, security teams should establish monitoring protocols for template engine usage patterns and implement input validation at multiple layers including package metadata processing, template rendering, and dependency resolution to create defense-in-depth controls against similar vulnerabilities.