CVE-2022-0763 in Microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 02/26/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository microweber/microweber prior to 1.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0763 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Microweber content management system repository. This issue was present in versions prior to 1.3 and specifically affects the web application's handling of user input data. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied content before it is stored in the database and subsequently rendered in web pages without proper escaping mechanisms. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute against unsuspecting users who view the affected content.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters that are subsequently displayed in web interfaces. When users submit content containing script tags or other malicious payloads, these inputs are stored directly in the database without adequate filtering or encoding. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security. The flaw typically occurs in areas where user-generated content is processed, such as comments sections, article content fields, or administrative input forms where the application fails to implement proper output encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and sensitive data within the affected web application. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts in the context of any user's browser who views the compromised content. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potentially full system compromise. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, allowing for prolonged exploitation. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal, as compromised user sessions can be leveraged for unauthorized access and privilege escalation. Additionally, this vulnerability can be used to perform phishing attacks, defacement of web content, or serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0763 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 1.3 or later of the Microweber platform where the vulnerability has been patched. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers should be enforced to limit script execution capabilities in web browsers. All user-supplied content must be sanitized using appropriate libraries that properly escape HTML, JavaScript, and other potentially dangerous characters. The application should implement proper context-aware encoding for different output contexts such as HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts. Security headers including X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, and proper CORS policies should be implemented to enhance overall security posture. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future, as this type of flaw is particularly dangerous due to its persistence and potential for widespread impact across multiple users.