CVE-2022-30278 in Black Duck
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2022
A vulnerability in Black Duck Hub’s embedded MadCap Flare documentation files could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting attack. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input to MadCap Flare's framework embedded within Black Duck Hub's Help Documentation to supply content. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by convincing a user to click a link designed to pass malicious input to the interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to conduct cross-site scripting attacks and gain access to sensitive browser-based information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30278 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within Black Duck Hub's documentation infrastructure, specifically within its embedded MadCap Flare framework. This security flaw emerges from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied content before processing within the help documentation system. The affected component resides within the embedded MadCap Flare documentation files that form part of Black Duck Hub's user interface, creating an attack vector that can be exploited through maliciously crafted web requests. The vulnerability's presence in the help documentation system is particularly concerning as it provides attackers with a legitimate entry point that users may interact with during normal operational procedures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a classic cross-site scripting attack vector where an unauthenticated remote attacker crafts malicious links designed to inject harmful script code into the MadCap Flare framework's content processing pipeline. The flaw stems from the improper validation of user-supplied input parameters that are passed directly to the embedded documentation system without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms. When a victim user clicks on the maliciously crafted link, the embedded MadCap Flare framework processes the malicious input without proper security controls, allowing the attacker's script code to execute within the victim's browser context. This execution environment provides attackers with the ability to access sensitive browser-based information and potentially perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to conduct comprehensive cross-site scripting attacks that can compromise user sessions and access sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship that exists between legitimate users and the documentation system, making social engineering attacks more effective. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, access user-specific data, perform unauthorized actions within the Black Duck Hub environment, and potentially escalate privileges through session hijacking techniques. The embedded nature of the MadCap Flare framework within Black Duck Hub's interface means that successful exploitation can provide attackers with access to the same information and functionality that legitimate users possess.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the MadCap Flare framework's embedded components. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor-provided patches and updates that address the specific input validation gaps in the documentation system. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests targeting this vulnerability, while also providing additional layers of defense. Regular security assessments of embedded documentation systems should be conducted to identify similar validation issues in other components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a typical ATT&CK technique for initial access through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement user education programs to help identify suspicious links and reduce the effectiveness of social engineering attacks that exploit this particular weakness.