CVE-2022-28051 in SeedDMS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/07/2022
The "Add category" functionality inside the "Global Keywords" menu in "SeedDMS" version 6.0.18 and 5.1.25, is prone to stored XSS which allows an attacker to inject malicious javascript code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28051 affects the SeedDMS document management system, specifically targeting the "Add category" feature within the "Global Keywords" menu. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to execute persistent cross-site scripting attacks against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability exists in versions 6.0.18 and 5.1.25 of the software, indicating it has been present across multiple release streams and represents a significant concern for organizations relying on this document management platform. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the category creation functionality, allowing malicious actors to inject persistent javascript payloads that execute whenever the affected page is accessed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stored cross-site scripting pattern where user input is not properly sanitized before being stored in the application's database and subsequently rendered back to users without adequate encoding. When an attacker creates a category with malicious javascript code in its name or associated fields, this content is stored in the system and becomes persistent. Upon subsequent access to the global keywords menu or category display pages, the malicious script executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to complete session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the victim's privileges. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in web pages without proper validation or escaping, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the document management environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access sensitive documents, modify content, or establish backdoors through the compromised user sessions. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the attack remains effective even after the initial injection, requiring the application to be patched or the malicious content to be manually removed from the database. Organizations using SeedDMS versions 6.0.18 and 5.1.25 face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where the system is used for storing confidential business documents or sensitive information. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in the application's security architecture, where user-supplied data is not adequately protected against malicious input. This weakness creates an attack surface that can be exploited by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to document repositories and potentially move laterally within network environments where the system is deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28051 should prioritize immediate patching of affected SeedDMS installations to the latest available versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied content undergoes strict sanitization before storage or rendering. Security measures should include implementing proper content security policies to limit script execution, employing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of the document management system. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing least privilege access controls and monitoring for suspicious activity in the global keywords functionality. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input sanitization practices as recommended by industry standards including OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically addressing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and ensure that all users receive appropriate security training to recognize and report potential malicious content.