CVE-2022-26565 in Totaljs
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2022
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Totaljs commit 95f54a5 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the Page Name text field when creating a new page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Totaljs framework at commit 95f54a5 and represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's page creation functionality. The vulnerability specifically targets the Page Name text field during new page creation, where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious payload that, when processed by the application, executes arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to neutralize potentially dangerous characters and script tags that could be embedded within the page name field.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where attackers leverage the lack of proper sanitization to inject malicious content that can persist in the application's data store. When other users navigate to pages that display the crafted page names, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or encode user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated content. This particular implementation flaw allows attackers to bypass standard security controls that might otherwise prevent script execution, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass broader security implications for organizations using Totaljs frameworks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session manipulation attacks, steal sensitive user data, or even escalate privileges within the application if the framework lacks proper access controls. The persistent nature of stored XSS vulnerabilities means that malicious payloads remain active until manually removed from the system, potentially affecting all users who encounter the compromised page names. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering campaigns where attackers convince users to click on malicious links or through automated scanning tools that identify and exploit such flaws. The attack surface is particularly concerning in web applications where administrators and regular users interact with page creation features, as the vulnerability can be exploited even by less privileged users who have access to page management functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, script tags, and event handlers. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code from running within the application context. Additionally, proper input validation should be enforced at multiple layers including client-side and server-side controls to ensure that even if one layer fails, other defenses remain active. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other input fields and application components, as this flaw may indicate broader issues with how user inputs are handled throughout the framework. The remediation process should also include comprehensive logging and monitoring of page creation activities to detect suspicious patterns and unauthorized modifications to page names.