CVE-2022-0558 in Microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in Packagist microweber/microweber prior to 1.2.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0558 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Packagist package management system associated with the microweber/microweber software. This issue affects versions prior to 1.2.11 and allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time. The flaw exists in how the application handles user input during package metadata processing, specifically when storing information that is later rendered to other users without proper sanitization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the microweber package management interface. When developers or users submit package information through the Packagist system, the application fails to properly sanitize special characters and script tags that could be embedded within package descriptions, author names, or other metadata fields. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed in web pages without appropriate HTML encoding or content security policy enforcement, creating an environment where malicious JavaScript code can execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0558 extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of web applications, data exfiltration, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could manipulate package metadata to redirect users to malicious sites, steal authentication cookies, or inject backdoors into the application infrastructure. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts remain active until the package metadata is updated or removed, potentially affecting countless users who encounter the compromised package information. This type of vulnerability can be particularly devastating in package management systems where trust is paramount, as it undermines the integrity of the entire software supply chain.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding strategies throughout the application's data flow. Organizations should immediately upgrade to microweber version 1.2.11 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, developers should implement strict sanitization of all user-supplied data, employ content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution, and establish proper input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. The fix typically involves implementing proper HTML escaping mechanisms when rendering user-generated content and ensuring that all package metadata is validated against a whitelist of acceptable characters and formats. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing package management systems and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers exploiting vulnerabilities in package management systems to establish persistent access. Organizations should also implement monitoring and alerting systems to detect anomalous package submissions that could indicate exploitation attempts.