CVE-2022-1504 in Microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 04/27/2022
XSS in /demo/module/?module=HERE in GitHub repository microweber/microweber prior to 1.2.15. Typical impact of XSS attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1504 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Microweber content management platform, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.2.15. This issue manifests in the demo module's URL parameter handling, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in the web interface. The vulnerability exists in the path /demo/module/?module=HERE, indicating that the application directly incorporates the module parameter value into the HTML output without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms. This represents a classic server-side XSS vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads in the module parameter. When a victim accesses this specially crafted URL, the application processes the parameter and reflects the unvalidated input directly into the HTML response. This creates an opportunity for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser session. The impact of such an attack can be significant as it enables session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or encoding, making it susceptible to script injection attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations using Microweber platforms, particularly those with multiple users or administrative access. The attack vector is relatively straightforward, requiring only that a user click on a malicious link, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios or when users are browsing compromised websites. The vulnerability's presence in the demo module suggests that it may be accessible to unauthenticated users, potentially expanding the attack surface significantly. Attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to user sessions, manipulate content, or even escalate privileges if administrative functions are accessible through the same vulnerable parameter handling.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate application of the security patch released in version 1.2.15 of Microweber. This update should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in URL routing and module selection. Organizations should implement comprehensive parameter sanitization that includes HTML escaping, input length validation, and the use of secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and the ATT&CK framework's relevance in identifying such persistent threats, particularly the technique of credential access through web application vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the necessity of regular security updates and the implementation of proper input validation as fundamental security controls that align with industry best practices and regulatory compliance requirements.