CVE-2022-2685 in Interview Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2022
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Interview Management System 1.0 and classified as problematic. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /addQuestion.php. The manipulation of the argument question with the input <script>alert(1)</script> leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-205673 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2685 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the SourceCodester Interview Management System version 1.0. This system, designed for managing interview processes, contains a security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's processing pipeline. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the /addQuestion.php file, which serves as the interface for adding new questions to the interview database. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating an avenue for malicious code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's backend processing. When a user submits a question containing the payload <script>alert(1)</script> through the /addQuestion.php endpoint, the system does not adequately filter or escape the input before storing and subsequently rendering it within the web page context. This failure directly aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly encode or escape user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated content. The vulnerability operates under the category of reflected XSS in a stored context, as the malicious script is permanently stored in the application's database and executed whenever the affected page is accessed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, presenting significant risks to the integrity and confidentiality of the interview management system. Remote exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of any user's browser who views the maliciously crafted question. This capability enables various attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and potential data exfiltration from users with administrative privileges. The vulnerability's disclosure and public availability through VDB-205673 means that threat actors can readily leverage this weakness without requiring specialized knowledge or tools. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that interview management systems often contain sensitive information about candidates, interview processes, and organizational data, making them attractive targets for cyber adversaries seeking to gain unauthorized access or disrupt business operations.
Security mitigations for CVE-2022-2685 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping and encoding techniques before storing or rendering any data within web contexts. This includes implementing context-aware output encoding for HTML, JavaScript, and URL parameters to prevent malicious code from executing in the browser. The application should also employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including client-side and server-side validation to ensure comprehensive protection. The remediation efforts should align with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access and T1566.001 for social engineering, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to harvest session tokens or manipulate interview data. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase, with particular attention to all file upload and data entry points that may be susceptible to similar injection attacks.