CVE-2022-23896 in Admidio
Summary
by MITRE • 06/28/2022
Admidio 4.1.2 version is affected by stored cross-site scripting (XSS).
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23896 affects Admidio version 4.1.2 and represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's database. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user input that gets stored and subsequently displayed without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms, creating a persistent security risk.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when users submit data through web forms that are then stored in the application's database. When other users view this stored content, the malicious scripts execute within their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the database and affects all users who encounter the compromised content, making it particularly dangerous compared to reflected XSS variants that require specific user interaction.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations using Admidio for membership management, event coordination, or administrative functions. Attackers could exploit this flaw to access sensitive user data including personal information, login credentials, or administrative privileges. The vulnerability enables threat actors to establish persistent access to the system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the application and underlying database. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that stored XSS attacks can remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to maintain access while collecting intelligence or conducting further malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-23896 should prioritize immediate patching of the Admidio application to version 4.1.3 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious data from being stored or executed. Security measures including content security policies, proper sanitization of user inputs, and regular security audits should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers could use XSS to establish persistent access and execute malicious commands. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of all user input fields and verification that stored data is properly sanitized before database storage and subsequent display to users.