CVE-2022-22142 in php_mailform
Summary
by MITRE • 02/08/2022
Reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in the checkbox of php_mailform versions prior to Version 1.40 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to inject an arbitrary script via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22142 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the php_mailform application's checkbox functionality. This security weakness affects versions prior to 1.40 and enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser without requiring authentication. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the application handles checkbox inputs, creating an entry point for attackers to inject malicious code that gets reflected back to users.
This reflected XSS vulnerability operates through the manipulation of input parameters that are processed by the checkbox component of the php_mailform system. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability can be triggered through multiple entry points within the form processing logic, potentially including URL parameters, form fields, or other user-controllable inputs that interact with the checkbox functionality. The attack requires no authentication credentials from the attacker, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone who can access the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. When a victim interacts with a maliciously crafted link or form submission, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially compromising their session cookies, stealing sensitive information, or redirecting them to phishing sites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is immediately reflected back to the user without being stored on the server, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. From an adversarial perspective, this weakness maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves the use of malicious links to deliver payloads through phishing campaigns. Organizations utilizing affected versions of php_mailform face significant risk as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the application handles sensitive user data or where users may be authenticated to systems that trust the application's responses.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.40 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the reflected XSS vulnerability. Security teams should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious payloads from being executed. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of the application's input handling mechanisms. Organizations should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts and maintain up-to-date vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar issues across their application portfolio.