CVE-2022-1575 in drawio
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2022
Arbitrary Code Execution through Sanitizer Bypass in GitHub repository jgraph/drawio prior to 18.0.0. - Arbitrary (remote) code execution in the desktop app. - Stored XSS in the web app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-1575 represents a critical security flaw in the jgraph/drawio repository affecting versions prior to 18.0.0. This vulnerability manifests as both arbitrary code execution in the desktop application and stored cross-site scripting in the web application, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user systems and data. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious payloads, allowing attackers to bypass security controls and execute unauthorized code on affected systems. The desktop application's vulnerability specifically targets users who download and run the application locally, while the web application component affects users interacting with the online version of the diagramming tool.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a sanitizer bypass mechanism that fails to adequately filter or escape user-provided input before processing. When users create diagrams or import content into the drawio application, malicious code embedded within diagram elements or imported files can bypass the intended security filters. This sanitizer bypass allows attackers to inject executable code that gets processed by the application's underlying runtime environment, particularly affecting the desktop application where local code execution becomes possible. The stored XSS component operates by persisting malicious script payloads within the web application's database or storage mechanisms, which then executes when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that diagramming tools are frequently used in enterprise environments where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1575 extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive data, and establish persistent access to compromised systems. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could allow adversaries to target diagramming workflows that contain sensitive business information, intellectual property, or system architecture details. The desktop application's arbitrary code execution capability provides attackers with direct system access, potentially enabling them to install backdoors, exfiltrate data, or deploy additional malware. The web application's stored XSS component creates a persistent threat vector where compromised diagrams can serve as attack vectors for social engineering campaigns, credential theft, or further exploitation of connected systems. Organizations using drawio in their workflow may experience significant security breaches, particularly when diagram files are shared across teams or integrated with other enterprise applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1575 should focus on immediate version upgrades to 18.0.0 or later, which contain the necessary security patches to address both the sanitizer bypass and XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where diagramming tools may be integrated with other business applications. Input validation and sanitization mechanisms should be enhanced across all diagramming workflows, with particular attention to file import and sharing features. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious diagram file patterns or unexpected code execution attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 for cross-site scripting and CWE-94 for arbitrary code execution, and follows attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1059 for command and script injection and T1566 for social engineering. Regular security assessments of diagramming tools and collaboration platforms should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications.