CVE-2022-2256 in Keycloak
Summary
by MITRE • 09/02/2022
A Stored Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability was found in keycloak as shipped in Red Hat Single Sign-On 7. This flaw allows a privileged attacker to execute malicious scripts in the admin console, abusing the default roles functionality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2022
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2256 represents a critical security flaw within Red Hat Single Sign-On 7's Keycloak implementation that directly impacts administrative functionality and user session integrity. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin console environment where privileged attackers can inject malicious scripts that persist and execute within the context of other users' browser sessions. The flaw exploits the default roles functionality that Keycloak employs to manage administrative permissions, creating an attack vector that allows threat actors with sufficient privileges to manipulate the system's administrative interface. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads are permanently injected into the application's data storage and executed whenever affected users access the admin console, making it particularly dangerous for maintaining long-term system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within Keycloak's administrative components that handle role assignments and user management functions. When administrators or privileged users interact with the default roles configuration, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. This creates an environment where malicious script code can be stored in the database and subsequently executed in the browser context of other administrators who access the affected system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes role names, descriptions, or other configurable attributes that are displayed within the admin console interface, allowing attackers to inject javascript payloads that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized administrative actions.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-2256 extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can manipulate user roles, modify access controls, and potentially escalate their privileges within the identity management system. The default roles functionality that the vulnerability exploits serves as a critical foundation for the system's access control model, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it can be used to undermine the entire security architecture of the Red Hat Single Sign-On implementation. Additionally, the persistence characteristic of stored XSS means that the attack can remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to maintain access and continue executing malicious activities without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE-79 category for Cross-site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities.
Organizations utilizing Red Hat Single Sign-On 7 should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the specific XSS vulnerability in the default roles functionality. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior in administrative interfaces, while input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent malicious script injection into configurable system attributes. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of administrative interfaces and user role configurations to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to patching. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security controls in identity management systems and highlights the critical need for comprehensive input sanitization in all user-facing administrative components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as content security policies and regular security assessments of their identity and access management infrastructure to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.