CVE-2022-0880 in showdoc
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository star7th/showdoc prior to 2.10.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0880 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the showdoc repository management system maintained by star7th. This issue affects versions prior to 2.10.2 and demonstrates a critical weakness in how user input is processed and rendered within the web application interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied data that gets permanently stored within the application's database and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. The affected system processes user-generated content without adequate protection mechanisms, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and persistently executed against unsuspecting users who interact with the compromised application.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability occurs when users submit content containing malicious script payloads through the repository's input mechanisms. These scripts are then stored in the database and displayed to other users during normal application usage, particularly when viewing repository information or user-generated content. The flaw typically manifests when the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters and script tags from user input before rendering it in HTML contexts. This allows attackers to inject javascript code that executes in the browser context of other users, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or arbitrary code execution within the victim's browser environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic case where input validation fails to prevent malicious code injection into persistent storage.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0880 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the repository management environment. When exploited, this vulnerability allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary javascript code in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and access to sensitive repository data. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify repository content, thereby compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the entire repository management system. This type of vulnerability also enables attackers to perform advanced persistent threats against the organization's development infrastructure and code repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0880 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the showdoc application. Organizations should upgrade to version 2.10.2 or later, which includes necessary patches addressing the stored XSS vulnerability. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive input sanitization that filters or escapes potentially dangerous characters and script tags before storing user data. Additionally, developers should employ proper output encoding techniques when rendering user-generated content, particularly using context-appropriate escaping mechanisms such as html entity encoding for html contexts and javascript escaping for javascript contexts. Security controls should also include Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top 10 security guidelines, particularly those addressing input validation and output encoding as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to web application exploitation and credential access.