CVE-2022-27258 in Hubzilla
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2022
Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Hubzilla 7.0.3 and earlier allows remote attacker to include arbitrary web script or HTML via the rpath parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2022
Hubzilla version 7.0.3 and earlier contains multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that expose the application to remote code execution risks through improper input validation mechanisms. These vulnerabilities specifically affect the rpath parameter handling within the application's routing system, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the victim's browser session. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters before they are rendered in web responses, creating persistent XSS attack vectors that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication requirements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly escape or validate the rpath parameter during request processing. When users navigate through the Hubzilla interface and provide malicious input through this parameter, the system does not adequately filter or encode the content before incorporating it into dynamic web pages. This creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can be executed as scripts within the context of legitimate user sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive resources. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of these XSS vulnerabilities extends beyond simple script injection attacks and can enable sophisticated exploitation techniques through the attack chain defined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Attackers can leverage these flaws to establish persistent access through credential theft, perform session fixation attacks, or redirect users to malicious domains. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from any location without requiring physical access to the target system. Additionally, the vulnerabilities affect core navigation functionality, making them particularly dangerous as they can be triggered during normal user interactions with the application's web interface.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Organizations should deploy proper parameter sanitization routines that escape special characters in user-supplied input before processing or rendering. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers provides an additional layer of protection by restricting script execution within the browser context. Regular security auditing of web applications using automated scanning tools and manual penetration testing helps identify similar vulnerabilities across the codebase. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide temporary mitigation while permanent code fixes are implemented, though these solutions should not be considered complete defenses against sophisticated attackers who may bypass such controls through advanced evasion techniques.