CVE-2022-28378 in Craft
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2022
Craft CMS before 3.7.29 allows XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28378 represents a cross-site scripting weakness in Craft CMS versions prior to 3.7.29, constituting a critical security flaw that exposes web applications to malicious code injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the content management system's handling of user input within its administrative interfaces and content rendering mechanisms, creating an exploitable vector for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of victim browsers.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within Craft CMS's content processing pipeline. When administrators or users submit content containing malicious script tags or crafted payloads, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in web pages. This improper handling allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected content. The vulnerability manifests primarily in areas where user-generated content is displayed within the CMS interface, particularly in fields that support rich text editing and content management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities through the compromised CMS environment. An attacker could leverage this XSS vulnerability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive administrative credentials, modify content in real-time, or redirect users to phishing sites. The severity is amplified by the fact that Craft CMS is widely used for managing sensitive web properties, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on the platform for their digital infrastructure. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects core CMS functionality rather than specific plugins or modules.
Organizations using affected versions of Craft CMS should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to protect their systems from exploitation. The primary remediation involves upgrading to Craft CMS version 3.7.29 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious script execution. Additionally, implementing content security policies, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security audits of CMS configurations can provide additional defense layers. Security professionals should also consider implementing automated monitoring for suspicious content submissions and establishing incident response procedures specifically tailored to address XSS vulnerabilities in content management systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and proper input validation that forms the foundation of secure web application development practices.