CVE-2022-28959 in SPIP
Summary
by MITRE • 05/20/2022
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the component /spip.php of Spip Web Framework v3.1.13 and below allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28959 represents a critical security flaw within the SPIP web framework version 3.1.13 and earlier releases. This issue manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities located within the /spip.php component of the framework, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise web applications built on this platform. The SPIP framework, widely used for content management and web publishing, becomes particularly vulnerable when attackers can inject malicious scripts into the application's response handling mechanism.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the /spip.php component. When user-supplied data is processed through this framework component without proper sanitization measures, attackers can inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's response. These scripts execute in the context of the victim's browser when other users access the affected pages, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for collaborative environments where multiple users interact with the same content management system. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the framework's handling of user inputs that are subsequently rendered in web pages without adequate security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28959 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to compromised systems, potentially leading to full system compromise or data breaches. The vulnerability affects not only individual user sessions but also the overall integrity and security posture of web applications built on the SPIP framework, as the injected scripts can manipulate content, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to phishing sites. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on SPIP for business-critical applications.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the SPIP framework where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injections. Security measures should also include regular security audits of web applications, implementation of content security policies, and comprehensive user input sanitization practices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing attachments and links. Organizations must also consider implementing security monitoring and incident response procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities to address potential compromise scenarios.