CVE-2022-23072 in Recipes
Summary
by MITRE • 06/21/2022
In Recipes, versions 1.0.5 through 1.2.5 are vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), in “Add to Cart” functionality. When a victim accesses the food list page, then adds a new Food with a malicious javascript payload in the ‘Name’ parameter and clicks on the Add to Shopping Cart icon, an XSS payload will trigger. A low privileged attacker will have the victim's API key and can lead to admin's account takeover.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23072 affects the Recipes application within versions 1.0.5 through 1.2.5, presenting a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw in the "Add to Cart" functionality. This security weakness allows malicious actors to inject persistent javascript payloads into the application's database through the food item name parameter, creating a persistent threat that affects all users who interact with the compromised data. The vulnerability resides in the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing and rendering it within the food list page interface. The flaw operates as a classic stored XSS attack where malicious code is initially stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever victims access the affected page, making it particularly dangerous due to its persistence and broad impact potential.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious user creates a food item with a specially crafted javascript payload in the Name field during the add to cart process. When the victim navigates to the food list page and interacts with the compromised food item, the stored payload executes in the victim's browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, API keys, or other sensitive information. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal privileges to exploit, as even low-privileged attackers can manipulate the system through the legitimate add to cart functionality. This attack vector represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate input sanitization practices that allow malicious code to persist within the application's data store.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-23072 extends far beyond simple script execution, as the stolen API keys can provide attackers with elevated privileges within the application's backend systems. This vulnerability creates a pathway for unauthorized access to administrative accounts, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. The attack chain typically involves the attacker creating a malicious food item, waiting for a victim to access the food list page, and then harvesting sensitive credentials from the victim's browser session. This scenario aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation framework, where persistent XSS vulnerabilities serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it can affect any user who accesses the compromised food list, creating a wide attack surface and potential for mass credential theft.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-23072 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The most critical immediate action involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly within the food name parameter field. This approach aligns with established security practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of defense in depth. Organizations should implement proper content security policies, employ automatic sanitization of all user inputs, and establish robust input validation routines that reject or escape potentially malicious content. Additionally, the application should implement proper session management and authentication mechanisms to limit the impact of credential theft, including implementing multi-factor authentication and regular session token rotation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security testing and code review processes, as this flaw could have been identified through automated scanning tools and manual penetration testing that would have detected the lack of proper input sanitization mechanisms.