CVE-2022-0571 in phoronix-test-suite
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Reflected in GitHub repository phoronix-test-suite/phoronix-test-suite prior to 10.8.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0571 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the phoronix-test-suite repository prior to version 10.8.2. This issue manifests in the web interface component of the software, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being reflected back to the browser. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, specifically classified as reflected XSS where malicious scripts are executed in the victim's browser through crafted input parameters. The affected application processes user input through HTTP request parameters and directly incorporates this data into web responses without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that, when processed by the application, gets reflected back to the user's browser in the HTTP response. This reflected content is then executed as JavaScript within the context of the victim's session, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the web-based interface of the phoronix-test-suite, which is commonly used for system benchmarking and performance testing, making it accessible to users who may not be security-aware. Attackers could leverage this flaw by sending phishing emails or manipulating web links that contain malicious payloads, which would execute in the context of a user's browser session when they click on the links.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0571 extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors within the context of the affected application. An attacker could potentially steal session tokens, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that could compromise the integrity of test results and system configurations. Given that this vulnerability affects a system benchmarking tool, the implications are significant for users who rely on the application for performance testing and system evaluation. The vulnerability also represents a potential entry point for more complex attacks, as reflected XSS often serves as a stepping stone for additional exploitation techniques. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that the application is used in various environments including development, testing, and production systems where users may have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to version 10.8.2 or later where the XSS protection mechanisms have been implemented. The fix typically involves proper input validation and output encoding of user-supplied data before it is incorporated into web responses. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization routines that escape or encode special characters in user input to prevent script injection. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The security community should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning of the application to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Credential Access and T1566 for Phishing, as reflected XSS often enables these attack vectors through session hijacking and user manipulation. Organizations should also conduct regular security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future code releases, as this vulnerability represents a common oversight in web application security practices.