CVE-2022-25138 in Open Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2022
Axelor Open Suite v5.0 was discovered to contain a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability via the Name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-25138 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within Axelor Open Suite version 5.0, specifically affecting the Name parameter handling mechanism. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the application's data processing pipeline, creating a persistent security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the system's database. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once the malicious payload is submitted through the Name parameter, it remains persistently stored within the application's backend and executes whenever the affected data is rendered to other users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines the weakness of cross-site scripting in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing applications. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture to properly sanitize user inputs before storage, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly escape or validate special characters within the Name parameter during data insertion processes. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that include javascript code, html tags, or other scripting elements that are then stored in the database without proper sanitization. When other users view the affected records or interact with the application's user interface, the stored malicious code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to establish persistent access patterns within the application environment, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise deployments where multiple users interact with shared data. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient data validation in web applications, where the system trusts user-provided data without adequate security measures.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations utilizing Axelor Open Suite, as it creates a persistent backdoor that can be exploited by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data. Once exploited, the stored XSS vulnerability can enable attackers to steal user sessions, modify application behavior, or redirect users to phishing sites that can harvest credentials and other sensitive information. The impact is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects core application functionality through the Name parameter, which is likely used extensively throughout the system for user identification, record naming, and various business processes. Organizations may experience data integrity issues, unauthorized access to confidential information, and potential regulatory compliance violations depending on the nature of the business data stored within the application. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the application environment, potentially leading to more extensive system compromise.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with the immediate patching of affected Axelor Open Suite installations to version 5.1 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been resolved. The remediation process must include thorough input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed within the application environment. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar input validation weaknesses throughout the application codebase and implement proper sanitization routines for all user-provided data. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block suspicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities in other application components. The mitigation strategy should also include user education about the risks of interacting with untrusted data and implementing proper access controls to limit the damage potential of any successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring and incident response procedures specifically designed to detect and respond to XSS attack patterns within their Axelor environments.