CVE-2022-1584 in microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2022
Reflected XSS in GitHub repository microweber/microweber prior to 1.2.16. Executing JavaScript as the victim
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1584 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the Microweber content management system repository. This security weakness exists in versions prior to 1.2.16 and allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of authenticated users. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating an attack vector where malicious payloads can be reflected back to users through improperly sanitized parameters. The flaw specifically affects the repository's handling of user-supplied data in HTTP request parameters that are subsequently rendered in web responses without adequate sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when user input is directly incorporated into web page responses without proper sanitization or encoding. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing javascript payloads that, when clicked by authenticated users, execute in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability typically manifests through parameters that are echoed back to the user interface without proper HTML entity encoding or other protective measures. This allows the injected javascript code to execute with the privileges of the victim user, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or further malicious activities. The attack requires user interaction through clicking malicious links, making it a client-side exploitation vector that leverages social engineering techniques to deliver the malicious payload.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1584 extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, modify user preferences, access restricted functionality, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects any user who interacts with the malicious payload, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have administrative or elevated privileges. This reflected XSS weakness can also serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including credential harvesting, data exfiltration, or establishing persistent access through browser-based backdoors. The security implications are compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects a widely used content management system, potentially exposing numerous installations to exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1584 primarily involve upgrading to version 1.2.16 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive parameter validation and ensure all user-supplied input is properly encoded before being rendered in web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests containing known XSS patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing attacks that often leverage XSS vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation within target environments.