CVE-2022-30241 in jquery.json-viewer library
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2022
The jquery.json-viewer library through 1.4.0 for Node.js does not properly escape characters such as < in a JSON object, as demonstrated by a SCRIPT element.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2022
The jquery.json-viewer library version 1.4.0 and earlier contains a critical security vulnerability that stems from improper HTML escaping of JSON content when rendered in web applications. This vulnerability specifically affects Node.js implementations and manifests when the library processes JSON objects containing characters such as the less-than symbol < which can be exploited to inject malicious script content. The flaw represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs during the rendering process when the library fails to sanitize input data before displaying it in HTML contexts. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, where the application does not properly escape or filter user-controllable data before rendering it in a web page context. The security implications are significant as attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the library's failure to implement proper input sanitization during JSON rendering operations. When a JSON object contains unescaped characters such as <, the library renders these characters directly into HTML without appropriate encoding, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject script tags or other malicious HTML elements. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through seemingly benign JSON data that contains special characters, making it difficult to detect during normal application testing. The attack vector involves an attacker providing malicious JSON data containing script elements or other HTML tags that get rendered as part of the JSON viewer interface. This allows for arbitrary code execution in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1213 Data from Information Repositories, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized access to sensitive data through the exploitation of input validation flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-30241 extends beyond simple XSS exploitation, as it can lead to complete compromise of web applications that utilize this library for JSON display functionality. Organizations using vulnerable versions of jquery.json-viewer in their Node.js applications face significant risk of unauthorized access to user sessions and sensitive data exposure. The vulnerability affects web applications that display JSON data to end users, particularly those that do not implement additional input validation layers beyond what the library provides. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute malicious scripts that can steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the library is used to display user-generated content or data from external sources, as these scenarios provide multiple attack vectors for malicious input injection. Organizations that rely on this library for debugging, API testing, or data visualization purposes are especially vulnerable since these use cases often involve displaying untrusted data without additional sanitization measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to upgrade to patched versions of the jquery.json-viewer library or implement compensating controls to prevent XSS exploitation. Organizations should prioritize updating to version 1.4.1 or later where the character escaping issues have been addressed. In cases where immediate upgrades are not feasible, developers can implement additional input sanitization layers before passing data to the library, ensuring all potentially dangerous characters are properly escaped or encoded. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution even if the underlying vulnerability is not fully patched. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across all applications using this library to identify and remediate affected systems. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code reviews should be implemented to detect similar input validation weaknesses in other components of the application stack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, aligning with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and secure coding guidelines that emphasize the need for consistent data validation and sanitization throughout the application lifecycle.