CVE-2022-0743 in grav
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository getgrav/grav prior to 1.7.31.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-0743 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the GitHub repository getgrav/grav prior to version 1.7.31. This issue affects the Grav CMS platform, which is widely used for content management and web publishing. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload is permanently saved on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where user contributions are common.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Grav CMS application. When users submit content or data through various interfaces such as comments, form submissions, or administrative panels, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before storing it in the database. This allows malicious actors to embed script tags or other malicious code within legitimate-looking content, which gets stored and subsequently rendered to other users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability manifests when the application displays this stored content without proper HTML escaping or context-aware encoding, enabling the injected scripts to execute in the victim's browser context. This flaw aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0743 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. In a CMS environment where multiple users contribute content, this vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise all users who view affected pages. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, modify content, or even establish persistent backdoors within the application. The stored nature means that even after the initial injection, the malicious code continues to execute for any user who accesses the compromised content, making detection and remediation more challenging. This vulnerability can be particularly devastating for organizations relying on Grav CMS for critical business operations or user-facing websites.
Organizations using Grav CMS versions prior to 1.7.31 should immediately implement the available patch or upgrade to version 1.7.31 or later to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes comprehensive input validation, proper output encoding, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of user-contributed content and implement web application firewalls to detect and block potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper security monitoring and logging mechanisms can help identify unusual activities related to content injection attempts. Organizations should follow ATT&CK framework techniques T1566 for social engineering and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, as these tactics often accompany XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications, with particular attention to input handling and output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against persistent threats in web applications.