CVE-2022-0542 in chatwoot
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - DOM in GitHub repository chatwoot/chatwoot prior to 2.7.0.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0542 represents a cross-site scripting flaw located within the Document Object Model of the chatwoot application, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.7.0. This issue resides in the GitHub repository chatwoot/chatwoot and constitutes a significant security weakness that could enable malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic content generation within the DOM structure.
The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the realm of DOM-based cross-site scripting attacks, where malicious scripts are injected into web pages through manipulation of the Document Object Model rather than traditional server-side input handling. This particular vulnerability arises from insufficient validation and sanitization of data passed through URL parameters or other client-side mechanisms that subsequently influence DOM manipulation. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when executed, can inject malicious JavaScript code into the victim's browser environment. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", specifically manifesting as a DOM-based XSS variant.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0542 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can potentially enable attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the chatwoot application. Given that chatwoot is a customer communication platform, successful exploitation could allow malicious actors to access sensitive conversation data, impersonate legitimate users, or even modify application behavior through injected scripts. The vulnerability's presence in the DOM processing layer means that even if server-side input validation is properly implemented, client-side manipulation can still introduce security risks. This makes the attack surface more complex and potentially harder to detect through traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of version updates to chatwoot 2.7.0 or later, which would contain the necessary patches addressing the DOM-based XSS flaw. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures across all client-side data processing pathways, particularly focusing on URL parameter handling and dynamic DOM manipulation functions. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews focusing on DOM manipulation patterns and ensure that all user-provided data is properly escaped before being incorporated into dynamic content. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and represents a critical risk for any organization relying on web-based communication platforms where user input directly influences page rendering behavior.